It’s a blessing in disguise, perhaps, that Atalanta winger Amad Diallo is only linking up with Manchester United now after officially signing for the club on deadline day in October. The Red Devils have got their act together a little since then - and anyway, fans needed time to digest such a strange finale to the window shutting.

The 18-year-old has been handed Marcus Rashford’s old No.19 shirt and will be integrated from now until the end of the season. With United on an upwards trajectory of late and fixtures coming thick and fast this month, don’t be surprised if Diallo starts appearing off the bench - Ole Gunner Solksjaer has shown, after all, that he’s not afraid of dropping youngsters into the mix whenever they show the ability.

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With such little playing time under his belt though, what can United fans expect from the teenage Ivorian? Who is he and what makes him tick?

1. Two-footed and comfortable creating

Man United’s wing options are interesting, to say the least. Obviously Rashford and Martial can operate in wide berths; Mason Greenwood is primarily a goalscorer, while Juan Mata is still effective from the right-hand side. Even Paul Pogba’s played left-wing.

Amad Diallo is very good with both feet. He plays on the right and the stats suggest that he’s equally as comfortable taking chances himself as he is creating them. The alternative to Jadon Sancho? Such an inexperienced Plan B suggests that Solskjaer either has a lot of faith in him developing into something world-class or he’s one for the next five years - maybe he’ll be Sancho level when Sancho is making the transfer after next, even. It’s that long-term.

Still, the signs are that he’s a lot more rounded than a lot of United’s current wide-men. He’s still developing too and may be moulded into one thing or another before then.

2. Don't call him Traore

In flurry of deadline day excitement, Amad Diallo was labelled Amad Diallo Traore by just about everyone. His brother is called Hamad Traore. But he wants to go by Diallo.

On his 18th birthday, the winger changed his Instagram name from “Amad Traoré” to “Amad Diallo”, with a caption reading, “don't call me Traoré anymore”, while two months later, he legally changed his name. 

Given how many Traores there are - notably fellow Premier League winger Adama - that seems like a wise move, branding-wise. Just no one tell him about Abdou Diallo… 

3. When Amad met Paul

Amad Diallo already knows a couple of the lads at the Carrington training ground. Well, sort of. 

Back when Paul Pogba was at Juventus, Diallo met the Frenchman and got his photo - now he’ll be playing alongside the World Cup winner. He’s also chatted with fellow Ivorian Eric Bailly ahead of his move to England, claiming, “He’s a top man. I speak with him and speak with the family.”

It seems likely that Bailly will take the youngster under his wing at United. 

4. Diallo could play for two countries

Diallo was born in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast. So far, he’s not actually represented his nation - even in youth football - though his 20-year-old midfielder brother Hamad has played for Les Elephantes’ U23 side.

Amad Diallo is, of course, eligible to play for Ivory Coast too, but having left Africa when he was 10 years to come to Italy, he is also able to play for the Azzurri. His mother took the two boys over to Europe, though their dad stayed in Ivory Coast to run a football school. 

Diallo had trials with Juventus and both Milan clubs as youngsters, before finding a place at lower-league Lucchese. His talent shone through, though - it wasn’t long before Boca Barco signed him. Eventually, Atalanta came knocking. 

5. Serie A record-breaker

Diallo is a fast starter in life. His goal against Udinese on his debut made him the youngest Serie A netter ever.

This was back in October 2019, when Diallo was just 17, making him the first player born after the 2002 World Cup to have ever scored in the division. He’s so young that he was just 11 days old when Rio Ferdinand joined Manchester United. Only Teden Mengi is younger in the United first-team squad.

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The 60-second story

Certain players appear groomed for greatness, and Garcia has enjoyed an aristocratic footballing education. An exciting prospect in Barcelona's youth academy La Masia from the age of seven, Garcia was a perennial captain despite playing in age groups above his own.

The Catalonian excelled so much that he caught the eye of legendary Blaugrana defender Carles Puyol, who snapped Garcia up to his agency before the former’s 16th birthday.

The 19-year-old, a stalwart of Spain’s uber-successful youth sides, has already picked up two youth European Championship gongs. He was forced to make do with an under-17 World Cup runner-up medal in 2017, and could only watch from the bench as future team-mate Phil Foden scored a brace in the final. Last year, Garcia was the only 18-year-old in Spain’s under-21 squad.

His 2017 move to Manchester was a shocking one for Barça’s suits, especially considering Puyol’s involvement. With it, Garcia joined the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique, Hector Bellerin, Andre Onana and Mauro Icardi in leaving La Masia for foreign climes as a teenager.

Having trained at one of the most advanced academies in the world, working under Pep Guardiola was a logical next step for Garcia. He has starred for and captained Manchester City’s development squads, made a smattering of senior appearances in the latter stages of the EFL Cup in 2019, and has made six appearances in the Premier League so far this season.  

Why you need to know him

With a CV that impressive, Garcia seems destined for success. Manchester City’s absence of fit senior centre-backs means first-team minutes should be imminent. Guardiola has seemed reticent to blood some of City’s other young prospects, but may now have no choice but to trust youth at the back – Aymeric Laporte and John Stones have struggled with injuries, while Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala (loan) left during the summer. 

Leaving the comfort of his hometown club aged 16 to go abroad speaks to Garcia’s bold mentality. Kyle Walker even picked the teenager out as the most likely of City's squad to become a Premier League manager in the future.

He’s got some way to go before taking charge of a Premier League game from the sidelines, but it feels like he’s about to do just that on the pitch. He may be doing it for some time. 

Strengths

Unsurprisingly for a La Masia graduate signed for Guardiola’s City, Garcia is very comfortable in possession. In his competitive City debut, away against Leicester in the League Cup, the Catalan managed a typically high pass accuracy of 91%.

Garcia’s maturity is not in question, and he boasts the calmness and positional intelligence of a player far beyond his years. To master the cerebral elements of the game at such a young age, particularly in a position of responsibility, speaks volumes. After his young stopper impressed against Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool in pre-season, Guardiola gushed that Garcia “is 17 or 18 and played like he is 24 or 25”.

He also reportedly lives at City’s training ground and speaks fluent English, underlining his commitment to performing in every facet of the game. 

Weaknesses

Garcia is 6ft tall, which means he's not tremendously imposing. He’s not remarkably quick either, which might prove a problem when playing as part of a defensive line as advanced as Manchester City’s.

At 19, and with little senior experience despite his unavoidable talent, Garcia will inevitably make mistakes if he is continued to be used in big games.

What they said

“He's so smart, so intelligent. His physicality is not so, so strong, but he resolves the situation by thinking. I like to work with smart people, intelligent people. He is one of them. I can count on him. He has shown me an incredible personality.”

Pep Guardiola, January 2019

Did you know?

Garcia, ranked by Goal.com as the 15th best teenager in the world, forced Puyol into a career change. Barcelona officials and supporters were so unhappy with their former captain’s involvement in the player's transfer away from the Camp Nou that it made Puyol decide to give up the agency business in favour of spending more time in a less divisive role as an ambassador for UEFA and La Liga.  

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The 60-second story

Donyell Malen has truly come into his own since returning to his homeland in August 2017. The forward began his career with Ajax at the age of eight in 2007, before moving to north London as a 16-year-old in 2015. 

The Dutchman of Surinamese descent had declined offers from both Manchester United and Chelsea to join the Gunners, inspired by his idol and former Ajax U10s coach Dennis Bergkamp. 

Arsene Wenger was a fan of the youngster and Malen was soon featuring regularly for the Gunners’ under-23s, for whom he scored seven goals in 24 matches across two seasons. But that’s as good as it got for him in north London: despite his impressive form at youth level – form which earned him first-team involvement in 2017 pre-season – Malen sought regular senior football and joined PSV Eindhoven for a cut-price £200,000 that summer. 

He barely played in his first season but featured off the bench regularly in his second, netting 10 Eredivisie goals as PSV ran Ajax close for the title in 2018/19. Now, however, he’s undroppable – and seemingly unstoppable. Malen has already matched his league haul of last season... after only nine games.   

Why you need to know him

Five-goal hauls are rare, but Malen managed just that against Vitesse Arnhem in September with one fine strike, two penalties and two headers. With it, he became the first player since Dutch legend Marco van Basten 35 years ago to score five goals in an Eredivisie game. 

The 20-year-old followed it up with another goal in PSV’s 1-1 draw with Ajax, cancelling out Quincy Promes’ opener at the Philips Stadion, and most recently struck two against VVV-Venlo after adding one more against PEC Zwolle.  

Malen has scored 10 goals in nine Eredivisie matches this season, and got three more in the Europa League after only two matches against Sporting CP and Rosenborg. Such form earned him his Holland debut in September, which he marked with a goal against Germany. The young marksman can do no wrong right now. 

PSV believe he is already worth £50m according to reports, and former club Arsenal are said to be watching him closely along with Liverpool and Milan. 

Strengths

Goals, goals and more goals. Malen’s impact was immediate at international level: he hit nine goals in only five appearances at U15 level, and later made a strong impression in the U19s with eight goals in 10 appearances. 

Standing at 5ft 10in, he is an all-purpose attacker who considers himself able to play in any position across a front three in a 4-3-3 formation. Malen has shown himself to be good in the air, lightning quick, strong and a terrific finisher. His movement off the ball is excellent, too. 

Whether he’s leading a quick counter-attack or controlling a ball on the edge of the box, the 20-year-old is cool and considered when thinking about his next move. It’s a byproduct of the footballing intelligence instilled in Malen from a young age: as well as Bergkamp at Ajax, he has had the benefit of working with his idol Thierry Henry at Arsenal’s academy. 

Weaknesses

For now, the obvious weak spot is his defensive contribution. PSV manager Mark van Bommel would love to see the youngster more involved when the ball is lost in midfield – he hasn’t made a tackle in either the Eredivisie or Europa League this season, and is averaging a mere 0.1 interceptions per game in the former. 

If he can improve his work-rate off the ball, PSV will have an all-round asset in their team who can prove to bigger clubs that he is capable of doing more than just score goals. 

What they said…

His current PSV boss Van Bommel has been keen to warn that Malen is still developing, but praised his fine development so far in 2019/20. 

"It is great to see how Donyell is constantly entering a new phase of development," he told Algemeen Dagblad. "Last season he was a regular substitute for the winter break. He did a great job.

"After the winter, he started playing his first games in the starting line-up. In the last five games, he was a permanent striker for the first time and this season he is also our No.1 striker. He’s also made his debut for the Oranje. I think everything is good, he is still only 20 years old.”

Earlier in Malen’s career, his then-Ajax U14 coach Brian Tevreden – now chief executive at Belgian side K.S.V. Roeselare after a stint at Reading – likened him to another former Gunner. 

“It’s hard to describe him,” he said. “If I have to compare him with a player in the Premier League, he seems a bit like Alexis Sanchez.”

Did you know? 

Malen played in the same junior team as Matthijs de Ligt and Justin Kluivert at Ajax, and they remain good friends. 

His agent is Mino Raiola, who lavished praised on his young player in 2016. Said the notorious representative: “Gianluigi Donnarumma is in the national team at 17 so he will continue to get better with Italy and AC Milan, Moise Kean is doing well at Juventus, but the one who I am excited about is already with a Premier League club and that is Donyell Malen at Arsenal.”

What happens next? 

Asked by an excitable hack about the prospect of scoring 40 goals in a season and continuing at his current rate, Malen was understanably reserved. 

“More than 40 goals in one year? Hmm, that’s a lot," he smiled. "I don’t pin myself down on a number, but I’m ambitious. I want to go for the highest total possible. And for now it’s going well.

“When it comes to my finishing, I’m noticing that experience pays. I’m calmer in front of goal than last year. That experience helps with practice. If that’s good, you give yourself more time to think. We train a lot on that.”

Malen is a talented individual who major clubs will be running the rule over closely this term, perhaps more so in Europe and for Holland – where matches are of higher quality and intensity – than in his domestic league. Many Eredivisie starlets have gone before him and struggled at a higher level, but the signs look promising for Malen to avoid the same fate. 

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The 60-second story

It’s difficult to fathom that not too long ago – only a couple of months ago, in fact – Ansumane Fati was staring at the possibility of a premature Barcelona exit. At a time when La Masia’s brightest stars – and most popular, too – were leaving the club in pursuit of first-team opportunities abroad, there was a genuine fear around the Camp Nou that Fati would follow suit. But as the likes of Manchester City and United swirled, the Catalans bit the bullet, handing the youngster a three-year contract extension with an option for two more – plus a €100 million release clause and the promise of a spot in their B team. 

To their credit, the Blaugrana have largely delivered on that final promise, only in a way that few – including the player himself – would have initially foreseen. 

Born in Guinea-Bissau, Fati spent his childhood roaming the streets of Bissau, the west African nation's capital, kicking a makeshift ball made up of his rolled up socks. His talent was on show from an early age, though, and Fati was enrolled in Sevilla’s academy aged eight at the behest of academy head Pablo Blanco.

However, two years later, in spite of interest from Real Madrid, Ansu arrived at La Masia. There, he struck up a devastating partnership with Japanese youngster Takefusa Kubo for the club’s under-12s, and they scored 130 goals in their first season. Fati was forced to sit out of the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons as a result of Barça's ban on registering foreign players, plus an injury to his tibula and fibula, but returned in 2016/17. He represented their Juvenil-B side before being promoted into the Juvenil-A team last season. 

Why you need to know him

It was here where Fati started making headlines. Despite starting his career as a striker, the attacker morphed into a left-winger to improve his dribbling. Nevertheless, the African starlet proved to be equally as lethal on the wing and top-scored in the under-19s league last term. 

After impressing in Barcelona’s pre-season friendlies, Fati was fast-tracked into the first team after injuries to Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele. And at 16 years, 11 months and 25 days, he became Barça’s second-youngest debutant with a 15-minute cameo.

His remarkable rise was completed before the international break with a crucial goal to help the reigning La Liga champions to a hard-earned 2-2 draw at Osasuna.

And he didn't stop there: on his first start at the Camp Nou against Valencia this weekend, Fati scored within two minutes and set up a second goal just five minutes later, as Barça ran out 5-2 winners.

Strengths

Standing at 5ft 10in, Fati boasts a powerful frame and brings a physical approach to the game which is often lacking among a technically gifted Barcelona side. Nevertheless, despite his robust physique, the La Masia graduate possesses outstanding dribbling skills which, when combined with his speed, makes him incredibly difficult to stop in one-on-one situations. 

Simply, 56 goals in 29 games last season prove how lethal he is in front of goal. The youngster has shown that he has incredible vision and even an ability to control play from midfield. As his goal against Osasuna proved, Fati has the ability to be a threat in the air too.

However, it is Ansu’s versatility and natural talent that has made him a class above his counterparts. "His quality is that he can play in all of the attacking positions,” Albert Puig, La Masia’s former technical director, said. “He can play at 9, 11, 7, 10. He's very versatile. It makes a difference. He's fast. He's got a great imagination. He's got this natural talent… It's very important – this kind of player who plays so freely on the streets for hours and hours. It was the same with Messi as a kid, although Messi is obviously different in other aspects. Added to this his natural talent helps to make the player he has become.”

Weaknesses

If there was anything Fati could be criticised for, it’s his decision-making. 

The 16-year-old has previously been criticised for his perceived selfishness. To some, the youngster would prefer to go for goal himself at the expense of passing the ball to a team-mate and creating a goalscoring opportunity instead. 

Given his age, however, the Guinea-Bissaun still has a lot to learn and one would reasonably expect that his decision-making will improve significantly with time. Messi & Co. won't let him get away with it.

What they said

“He’s pure anarchy when he plays, and you need to give these kinds of talents liberty, not hide them out wide – they need to do what’s natural to them. He’s the jewel of La Masia.” 

Barcelona Juvenil-A coach Victor Valdes.

Did you know?

In more ways than one, Fati has Victor Valdes to thank for his speedy ascent. 

Not only has the former Barça goalkeeper overseen the youngster’s development over the last few months, the 37-year-old had to buy Fati a new pair of boots on a recent trip to Russia.

"I told him to bring me his boots and they were a complete disaster, they were causing him pain," Valdes said. "Nobody had thought it could be the boots, but I did. We went to buy some new ones."

What happens next?

With Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele set to remain on the sidelines following the international break, and with Rafinha loaned out to Celta Vigo, there's a good chance that we will see much more of Fati in the weeks to come. 

Going forward, however, Ernesto Valverde must be prudent as he looks to develop the precocious talent. As history suggests, such a job isn’t so simple. Of Barcelona’s 10 youngest debutants, the vast majority – see Bojan Krkic, Gerard Deulofeu, Marc Muniesa, Adama Traore – have all stalled despite showing early promise. Messi, as ever, is the notable exception.

If Barcelona are to get the best out of Fati, they will have to ensure that they manage expectations carefully while giving him opportunities to fulfil his undoubted potential.

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Ryan Baldi’s new book, The Next Big Thing: How Football’s Wonderkids Lose Their Way, tells the stories of 15 footballers who were tipped for the top as youngsters but were unable to fulfil their potential.

With each player exclusively interviewed and insight provided by former team-mates, coaches and expert journalists, Baldi provides a thought-provoking examination of the pitfalls young footballers face, and what happens when plans go awry.

Here, FourFourTwo has picked out extracts on five of the players featured in The Next Big Thing to see some of the ways a promising young career can be derailed...

The Next Big Thing is on sale now – pick up a copy here

Ben Thornley

The forgotten pupil from the Class of ’92. Many believed Thornley was the standout talent of Manchester United’s famous FA Youth Cup-winning side; a goalscoring winger with the habit of saving his best performances for when his team most needed him. Thornley was destined to be an Old Trafford star.

But a catastrophic knee injury – suffered in a reserve match only days before he was due to feature in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley for United’s first team – prevented him from fulfilling his potential.

In this except from The Next Big Thing, Thorney remembers the difficult dark days of his recovery, spent in the dank physio room of United’s old training ground, The Cliff, as his Youth Cup colleagues rose to stardom.

“When all the lads are coming back for pre-season training and it’s nice outside, you’re stuck in this gym. It gets to you mentally, it’s not just physically. Because you’ll have weeks where you think, ‘Brilliant, I’m not that far away.’ Then you’ll come in the following Monday and just feel like shit: you can’t do anything, you can’t lift anything and you can’t move. It aches and you feel like you’re three stone over weight.

“You’re there first thing in the morning, doing double sessions because you’ve got a terrible injury and there’s loads and loads of different stuff you could be doing. Boring exercises. I have to show that I’m being professional about it. I can’t be disappearing with a cruciate knee ligament injury, having not played for a few months and not due to play for a few more. I can’t be coming in at 10 o’clock and leaving at half past 12 when I’ve had my dinner. I need to be coming in at half eight in the morning, when the physio is arriving, getting on with my stuff.

“It was [difficult to stay positive], but the people who I was friends with at the time and the club that I was at, I couldn’t have been in a better place. I had mates there: I had Gaz [Gary Neville], I had Becks [David Beckham], I had Keith Gillespie and Sav [Robbie Savage]. They were all close friends. Even though I obviously wasn’t training, they never excluded me from anything that was going on outside of training. If they went for a game of snooker, I’d always get asked; if they went for a few drinks, I’d always get asked; if they went for something to eat or to the cinema or to watch a game, I would always get asked. It wasn’t the case that I was out of sight, out of mind. And that helped. 

“When you’re in that gym, that’s how it feels at times, because there’s literally no one else there and the sun’s shining outside – it was the one time you wanted it to piss down in pre-season so you weren’t that hot. You were stuck in a gym indoors, but you knew that you had to be.”

Andy van der Meyde

A prodigious winger who emerged from Ajax’s revered academy in 1997, Van der Meyde was quick, skilful and produced a reliable end product. 

He was signed by Inter Milan in 2003, but the Dutchman’s career and life soon began to tailspin. By the time he joined Everton in 2005, he was injury prone, out of shape and unmotivated. He retired from football at 29, after making 20 appearances for the Toffees in four years, before remaining in Liverpool on a year-long drink and drugs binge.

In this extract, Van der Meyde tells Baldi about how his marriage fell apart when his then-wife hired a private detective to uncover his affair with an exotic dancer he’d met shortly after signing for Everton.

“I woke up one morning to my phone ringing. It was my wife. She said, ‘How’s your new girlfriend?’ I said, ‘What are you talking about?’ She told me exactly what my girlfriend was wearing at that moment. I said, ‘You’re right. How the fuck do you know?’”

The detective was stood watching from an opposite apartment block, looking into the window of Van der Meyde’s secret love hideout and describing the scene to his wife.

“I thought, ‘OK, I’ve been caught, I have to accept the consequences.’”

There were to be no second chances, no reparations or reconciliation; trust had been broken beyond repair. Van der Meyde and his wife had met in Holland. While he was a homebody with no great desire for broadening his horizons beyond the walls of the Amsterdam Arena, she, harbouring ambitions of becoming an air stewardess, could not wait to flee the country for pastures new. She’d loved Italy, the Milan life, and resolved to return with their two young children upon learning of her husband’s infidelity. 

“That was the worst thing I’ve ever done in my life: I left my kids,” Van der Meyde says, instantly transported back to that moment of regret, eyes welling as he pictures the scene. “I was a real bastard. I was thinking, ‘What have I done?’ I was holding them before they got in the car to go to the airport, they were only three and five years old. I was crying and they were looking at me. I still remember that look: ‘Why are you crying?’

“I drove home saying, ‘What the fuck have I done?’ But the strange thing was, I was also in love with the other girl – if you’re in love, you do strange things. I left my kids for somebody else. It was my own fault. For the kids, it was such a shame.”

John Bostock

Bostock still holds the records of being the youngest player to play for Crystal Palace and Tottenham, having debuted for the Eagles aged just 15 in 2007 and then joined Spurs the following season.

Previously wanted by Barcelona and every top club in England, a regime change at White Hart Lane rendered his development an afterthought, and he slipped into a cycle of ill-thought loans before leaving to rebuild his career in Europe.

Here, Bostock – who now plays in Ligue 1 with Toulouse – remembers how things quickly unravelled for him at Tottenham.

“I joined Spurs with all the expectations around my name. I played four or five games in the reserves and I scored seven goals. I was training with the first team. So I thought, ‘I’m off to a blinder here.’ I went on pre-season tour with the first team. It just felt like it was a step of progress. I’m at a huge club in Spurs and there is a plan for my development here. 

“Then [sporting director Damien] Comolli left and Juande Ramos left. Harry Redknapp came in. He gave a few kids their debuts, I was one of them, and I’ll forever be grateful for that. He’s a good manager with lots of experience. He knows how to bring kids through who he believes in. But apart from the manager being there, there wasn’t actually anybody there overseeing my development. 

“What I mean by that is we had two great academy managers – Alex Inglethorpe, who is now at Liverpool, and John McDermott, the academy director, who is unbelievable. But in terms of somebody overseeing the process of me progressing – I’m talking about my loans, the next steps in my development, what would be in my best interests – I felt like that had been lost with Comolli leaving. There’s nothing you can change. There were a lot of kids coming through and at that point I just felt like one of a number.”

Giuliano Maiorana

Plucked from non-league obscurity with 10th-tier Histon in 1988, teenage winger Maiorana was thrust straight into Manchester United's first team. Despite a dazzling performance against soon-to-be champions Arsenal, the skilful left-footer felt ostracised by Sir Alex Ferguson and was banished to the reserves before a serious knee injury effectively ended his top-level career.

In this extract from The Next Big Thing, Maiorana details the harsh treatment Ferguson subjected him to.

“Once, when we beat Leicester [reserves] 4-1 – I’d scored one, set one up and hit the post – [Leicester manager] David Pleat gave me a pat on the back after the game: ‘Fucking superb tonight, son. Brilliant.’ I walked into the changing room and everyone was saying the same. Ferguson walked in: ‘Well done, boys. Everyone can have the day off tomorrow, except you, Maiorana. You’re going to come in and run your fucking bollocks off.’ [Reserve-team manager] Brian Whitehouse looked at Ferguson and just turned around; he was gutted. Darren Ferguson had his head in his hands.

“And other things happened, at dos and events. I was wearing an £800 suit, which I’d got cheap from the shop I used to work at, and a pair of £140 shoes, which I’d got cheap as well. I had a waistcoat on, a shirt. I was stood talking to somebody when Ferguson walked past and said, ‘Look at the state of you. You’ve always got to be fucking different.’ I said to Darren, ‘What the fuck is up with your dad?’ And there was a YTS [Youth Training Scheme] player sat there with a blazer on, with a polo shirt and no tie, but he didn’t say anything to him.

“How can they treat youngsters like that? If you don’t like somebody, be a gentleman about it: shake his hand and say, ‘Sorry, we don’t want you here.’ Don’t do what they did to me. It’s morally wrong.”

Adam Morgan

When rising through the ranks at Liverpool as a prolific goalscorer likened to Robbie Fowler, Morgan had always dreamed of representing his beloved Reds.

However, when he reached the first-team environment, he found himself in awe of his new colleagues who'd been his heroes. Here, he details his struggle with realising his dream of playing alongside Steven Gerrard & Co.

“I found it easy going up [to train with the first team] when there was just a few of them, but when I went full-time, I’d be nervous every single day. 

“These were my heroes. If I was at Everton I probably wouldn’t have been as nervous – they’d just be players. But these were my heroes I was going in to work with. 

“I look back now and think, ‘Should I have gone in and just thought, “Fuck this, I deserve to be here”?’ I’d be like, ‘That’s Steven Gerrard!’ I love him. But I don’t love, like, Ashley Williams at Everton. I would have thought, ‘Fuck you, I’ll get the ball before you.’

“I never would have gone and smashed Steven Gerrard in a tackle. He would have nailed me first, mind. But I would just be thinking, ‘Whoa, hold off.’ And you shouldn’t be in that mindset. 

“I was in awe, massively in awe. I’ve seen these players; I just want to do what they’ve done. I should have been like Gerrard when he said to Paul Ince, ‘I’m going to take your place.’ He just went in like a little Scouser and said that, but he meant it. 

“For me, I never felt fully like I belonged there. That wasn’t because people didn’t make me feel welcome; everyone always made me feel welcome. It’s just that, when you’re training with them and they're calling you by your name... I’ve loved [Gerrard] since I was this big, and he knows me. It’s just like you're one of the lads.” 

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The 60-second story

One good season can be a fluke, but two in a row suggests the player in question has the potential to be something special. And Nicolas Pepe is certainly special: the £72 million-rated striker has been sending clubs across Europe into a frenzy, with stories almost every day linking him with the continent's biggest sides. In the end, Arsenal were the ones who were willing to stump up the cash and get a deal done. 

The 24-year-old front man achieved devastating form for Lille last season, who finished as surprise runners-up behind champions PSG in the Ligue 1 table. In 2017/18 they narrowly avoided relegation, yet Pepe still managed 13 and six assists in his maiden season at the club.

In 2018/19 he plundered 22 goals and 11 assists, making him one of a handful of players in Europe’s major leagues to reach double figures in both categories.

Why you need to know him

WhoScored rated him as the third-best player in Ligue 1 last season, and ultimately made the four-man shortlist for the Player of the Season award (where he was ultimately beaten by the 33-goal Kylian Mbappe).

The Mantes-la-Jolie-born Ivory Coast international thrived in a three-man forward line alongside Jonathan Bamba and Jonathan Ikone, and now Unai Emery will be hoping he does the same in his own fearsome attack. The trio’s pace and precision in the opposition half turned Lille into one of Ligue 1’s most exciting sides – and now, alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, opposition sides could be in all kinds of trouble. 

Strengths

Pepe usually operates on the right side of attack, cutting in on his stronger left foot. He’s a quick, fluid mover with and without the ball, has great close control and the ability to create and take chances in equal measure.

The 6ft striker is more than a flat-track bully, too: goals against PSG, Lyon and Marseille show he can do it against the better sides. To see exactly what the fuss is all about, Google his goals against Nice (Feb 2019) or Saint-Etienne (Mar 2019).

Although used mainly out wide, his finishing ability suggests he could be effective as a central striker in the future. The timing of his runs to get behind defenders is excellent, and he keeps a cool head in one-on-one situations.

Weaknesses

For all his glorious stats, it’s worth noting that nine of Pepe’s 22 goals were penalties last season. Take spot-kicks out of the equation and his scoring rate drops from a goal every 151 minutes to a more moderate once every 256 minutes.

Accusations of nonchalance have plagued him, too, although his consistency over two seasons now mean such barbs may be a thing of the past for a player who only turned 24 at the end of May.

They said...

Lille coach Christophe Galtier: “He doesn’t need an intermediary step before joining a Champions League club. He can go directly into that standard of club given what a fantastic season he’s having for us.”

That hasn't quite proved to be the case, but he'll be hoping Arsenal's continued existence outside of Europe's premier competition isn't to last much longer. 

Did you know?

Pepe was a relatively late bloomer. After coming through the ranks at part-time amateurs Poitiers almost undetected, he didn’t play in the French top flight until after his 21st birthday.

His form at Angers persuaded Lille to pay what now looks like a bargain €11 million for him when Marcelo Bielsa was manager in 2017. Watford and Hull had both failed with bids of £7m in January 2017.

Lille turned down a €30 million bid for him from Lyon on transfer deadline day last August – and their refusal to sell now looks like one of the club’s smartest decisions in the past decade.

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Chelsea have signed Mateo Kovacic in a £40 million permanent deal from Real Madrid following his loan spell at the club last season. Despite the Blues’ transfer ban, rules state you can make a signing (before June 30) if the player has been on loan in the previous campaign. 

And that’ll be Lamps’s lot this summer. Chelsea’s transfer ban – which runs until the end of January 2020 – will force the club legend to look at what he’s already got at Stamford Bridge for 2019/20. 

But is that such a bad thing? The Blues’ kids won the UEFA Youth League in 2015 and 2016, and have scooped seven of the last 10 FA Youth Cups. And here’s who could capitalise… 

Karlo Ziger, goalkeeper (18)

The 21-year-old Croatian has a contract at Stamford Bridge until 2021. Ziger played a key role last season at Sutton United as an emergency shot-stopper, and was prominent as the U18s reached another UEFA Youth League final – beating Dinamo Zagreb and Barcelona on penalties en route. 

He joined the Blues as a 12-year-old from NK Zagreb, and could well replace third-choice keeper Rob Green, who was released by the club at the start of the month.

Reece James, right-back (19)

James was terrific on loan at Wigan Athletic last season, making 46 appearances and carving out a place in the Championship’s official team of the season. 

The versatile full-back, who can feature on either the right or left, has been at Chelsea since the age of six. He captained the young Blues to FA Youth Cup glory in 2018, and could see action in the Premier League two seasons on. Cesar Azpilicueta endured a difficult 2018/19, and Davide Zappacosta is expected to move on this summer.

Fikayo Tomori, centre-back (21)

A player Lampard took to Derby, the 21-year-old made 55 appearances for the Rams in 2018/19 and featured 15 times for Aidy Boothroyd’s England U21s too. 

Tomori has been at Chelsea since the age of six, making his senior debut during a 1-1 draw against Leicester in the final game of 2015/16. He helped the club secure consecutive UEFA Youth Leagues and FA Cup Youth Cups in 2015 and 2016, and could be a perfect replacement for the departed Gary Cahill.

Juan Castillo, left-back (19)

The Dutchman was keen to leave Stamford Bridge in search of regular first-team football. However, thanks to Lampard’s arrival, the 19-year-old has now signed a new deal to remain at the club. 

Having been mainly used as a wing-back in Chelsea’s youth set-up, the teenager could be a candidate to replace Marcos Alonso. Jay Dasilva has signed for Bristol City on a permanent transfer, and therefore Castillo could get plenty of opportunities to impress. 

Ethan Ampadu, central midfielder (18)

Signed from Exeter City in July 2017, the Welshman was part of Maurizio Sarri’s squad last season but made only two appearances in the FA Cup. He’s still only 18, however, and the full Wales international is fully expected to make his Premier League debut for Chelsea in 2019/20. 

Ampadu was previously a target for Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, before Chelsea pipped the Red Devils to sign him. He can operate as a defensive midfielder or centre-back, meaning Lampard could use his versatility next season.

Mason Mount, attacking midfielder (20)

Another player who Lampard took to Derby and thrived. Mount netted 11 times and provided five assists in 43 games across all competitions for the Rams, and is already a fan favourite at the Bridge despite not yet making a first-team appearance for Chelsea. 

The 20-year-old was Vitesse’s player of the year in 2017/18 before his successful loan spell at Derby. He has won two FA Youth Cups, the UEFA Youth League and U19 Euros, where he claimed the tournament’s Golden Player award. Mount could feature further forward, allowing N'Golo Kanté to drop back into his preferred defensive midfield role.

Tammy Abraham, striker (21)

Abraham enjoyed a fine campaign on loan at Aston Villa last season, netting 26 goals in 40 games as Dean Smith’s side won promotion via the play-offs. 

The 21-year-old does have three Chelsea appearances to his name having joined the club in 2004, and is eyeing a fist-team berth ahead of the new campaign. With Alvaro Morata out on loan at Atletico Madrid and Gonzalo Higuain not returning, Abraham arguably has the best chance of any Chelsea youngster to stake his claim. 

He won the 2018 Toulon Tournament with England and will surely be given the opportunity to fulfil his dreams of becoming a Blues regular under Lampard.

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All the best players start somewhere, but some seem to begin earlier than others. Here, in association with our pals at YouthHawk, we've put together the 50 hottest prospects in English football today.

Our parameters are simple: we looked for teenagers who are quite fine at football and contracted to English clubs right now. That's it (sorry, Jadon).

Image: West Ham United

The second-youngest player on our list checks in at number 50, but despite only just having turned 16 he’s already well on his way to the top.

While preparing to sit his GCSEs this summer, the talented attacking midfielder has been impressing for West Ham’s under-23s, and is hopeful of being the next youngster to earn first-team minutes under Manuel Pellegrini. A two-footed dribbler with a dangerous shot, it’s surely only a matter of time before Diallo makes the breakthrough in east London.

Bellingham is the only player younger than Diallo on this list but, like his fellow schoolboy, has also taken to under-23 football far better than your average 15-year-old has any right to.

A regular captain of England at U15 and U16 level, the Blues youngster profiles as a modern-day midfield schemer with lovely balance, tons of creativity and an eye for goal.

While teenagers up and down the country struggle for playing time at the highest level, the Football League continues to offer a platform to impress early and often – and that has particularly been the case at Southend.

All-action midfielder Yearwood has asserted himself as a crucial part of Chris Powell’s team since breaking into the Shrimpers’ first-team squad at the start of last season, standing out for his ability to win back possession and then thrillingly transition into attack. Big clubs are beginning to take notice.

Once eligible for Ireland, England or Nigeria, the squat, muscular Obafemi was brought to attention in December when he became Southampton’s youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer at Huddersfield.

It came a month after the Dublin-born striker committed his international future to Ireland, and his star will surely continue to ascend throughout 2019 and beyond now that he’s working under Ralph Hasenhuttl – a manager who's already shown his willingness to give young players a chance on the south coast.

In the space of five days late last month, Walker scored a hat-trick for Middlesbrough’s under-18s to kill off Everton in the Premier League Cup, then joined MK Dons on loan until the end of the season.

The move provides a chance for the prolific forward to build on a fine first half of the campaign in which he made his Boro first-team debut and continued to earn England recognition. Walker is a natural finisher with fluid movement, and helping MK to promotion from League Two could be just the start for him.

An ever-uncertain managerial situation at the City Ground has done little to halt Appiah’s trajectory into Forest’s first-team squad. The 18-year-old scored on his debut in the League Cup against Burton Albion in October, before signing a new long-term contract in January.

With Forest trying to reclaim an identity under Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane, the East Midlanders began to utilise Appiah’s exciting raw, attacking talent towards the end of 2018/19.

And on the Daniel Farke revolution goes at Carrow Road. The opportunities handed out to the likes of Jamal Lewis, Max Aarons, Ben Godfrey and Todd Cantwell make this a very exciting time to be a member of Norwich’s academy.

Idah is yet to join the aforementioned quartet in making a senior appearance, but the Irish forward’s goalscoring form over the last two years has earned him fluttering eyelashes from some of England’s biggest clubs. He’ll surely get his chance under Farke before too long.

One of the jewels in Fulham’s impressive youth setup, this tall and elegant central midfielder made his senior debut in August 2017 but, owing to injury, has managed just two further appearances since. As a result, he has an interesting decision to make this summer as he approaches the end of his first professional contract.

Like so many English youngsters, the lure of the Bundesliga looms large. O’Riley may take some convincing to remain in SW6 regardless of the increased prospects of football in the Championship with Fulham next season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a lot on his plate at Manchester United this summer – not least in trying to rid his squad of high-earning, underperforming players who are standing in his way of success at Old Trafford.

If he's successful, the Norwegian may be forced to turn to some of the club’s academy prospects. Chief among those is Laird, a versatile defender who plays best at right-back but is also a capable central defender with size, speed and top-class decision-making.

While their kids might not get the chance to shine at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s academy production line shows no sign of slowing down and former Blues are frequently turning up in matches across the country.

England Under-18 midfielder Anjorin, reminiscent of Michael Ballack when he’s at his dominant best, scored in six different youth competitions this season as well as for his country, and seems on course for a breakthrough into senior football before his teenage years are out.

“Passes and moves like a Premier League player.”

Bolton fans’ heady praise for a player who only made his first-team bow at the start of January may surprise some, but for anyone who’s had the chance to watch the versatile, shaggy-haired midfielder in action, it will be simple affirmation of what they already suspected.

His decent record in front of goal for the Trotters’ U18s caps an impressive attacking skill set, and the Liverpool-born Ireland international has just received his first senior call-up under Mick McCarthy. No wonder he's already been the subject of bids from Premier League clubs.

Things haven’t quite gone to plan for Dozzell since he scored on his Ipswich debut as a tender 16-year-old in 2016; it's been injuries and his club’s tumultuous slide down the table which have blighted his progress.

The son of ex-Tractor Boy Jason has a wand of a left foot and the ability to control a game’s tempo from his favourite position in the middle of the park. Put together, it makes him an easy watch. Dozzell might well end up taking a longer road to the top, but anyone willing to put their faith in him right now could end up snagging themselves a bargain.

Image: Middlesbrough FC

Part of Wood-Gordon’s rapid ascent to making first-team appearances while still only 16 can be attributed to his size. But he’s far from merely an impressive physical specimen.

The son of former Boro defender Dean Gordon is mature beyond his years, looks like the consummate modern-day defender with good feet, and is a regular captain of his England youth teams.

Calls from some quarters for the Dublin-born forward to lead Tottenham’s line in the absence of Harry Kane were highly optimistic, but they showed the esteem in which Parrott is held at Hotspur Way.

He only turned 17 in February but has hit the ground running since moving to London from Belvedere last season, and has already made an impact at under-23 level too. Mauricio Pochettino is never shy when it comes to blooding youngsters in the first team, so we could see more of Parrott in 2019/20.

Image: Wigan Athletic/Bernard Platt

Wigan’s youth system doesn’t immediately come to mind when you think of the country’s more underrated setups, but good work is being done in this corner of the northwest.

That’s underlined by the presence of two of their products featuring regularly England U17 squads this season (see also: Jensen Weir). A throwback centre-forward who knows where the goal is, Gelhardt has regularly donned a Three Lions shirt since he was 14.

There are spectacular, flashy and eye-catching prospects, but Garner isn’t one of them. That’s not a negative, though: the 18-year-old is rock solid with the composure of a grizzled veteran, and it seems inevitable that he will join the glittering, growing list of successful midfield graduates at Old Trafford.

He’s been mentioned in passing by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a player of interest, and got a brief first-team debut against Crystal Palace in February.

Fulham's desperation to keep another of their special talents forced them to accelerate Elliott’s development through their academy ranks – culminating in the 2003-born midfielder becoming the Premier League's youngest-ever player aged 16 years and 30 days in May.

Bigger clubs will continue to circle as he can't sign a professional contract until April 2020, but Elliott can be reassured that there is a proven pathway into senior football at Craven Cottage... even if he might have to take his GCSEs first.

It’s fair to say that Gomes isn’t your typical English footballer. His laid-back, languid and laconic style often makes it look as if a game has passed him by but, trusted by the right manager, he can make a midfield tick in a way that few others can’t.

He became the Premier League’s first 2000-born player on the final day of 2016/17, and although still short of stature, he’s continuing to develop well.

Born in London in the year 2000, Brewster spent six years on Chelsea’s books before heading north to Liverpool at the age of 15. Jurgen Klopp included the forward in his matchday squad for the clash with Crystal Palace in April 2017, but he remained on the bench and is still awaiting his first-team debut.

An England Under-18 international who’s also eligible for Turkey and Cyprus, Brewster top-scored in the Young Lions’ triumphant Under-17 World Cup campaign in 2017.

A young footballer’s journey rarely follows a straight line, and McNeil has certainly experienced the twists and turns that most youngsters endure. Released by Manchester United as a 15-year-old, he earned a scholarship down the road at Burnley and settled into a regular starting role under Sean Dyche this term – no mean feat at a club which isn’t exactly noted for its use of young talent.

Deceptively quick, decisive and confident, the 19-year-old scored three goals and added five more assists in his first Premier League season.

There was little reason for optimism at Portman Road this season as Ipswich hurtled towards League One – but Chalobah stood out as a rare functioning cog in the Tractor Boys’ machinery.

While relegation is never a desirable addition to one’s CV, the physical tests and mental challenges of a difficult season in the Championship are sure to stand the 19-year-old in good stead for his next step.

Another youngster showing that an exit from Old Trafford can open more doors than close them, Brereton spent his formative years in the Manchester United academy before moving on to Stoke and then Nottingham Forest.

It was at the City Ground where the clever striker really made his mark, scoring 20 goals in 15 games to break into Philippe Montanier first team at the age of 17. His subsequent £7m transfer to Lancashire hasn’t yet lived up to expectations – just the three league starts in 2018/19 – but time is very much on his side.

Eight days shy of his 17th birthday, Harwood-Bellis lined up in front of nearly 15,000 fans at the Stadium of Light as Manchester City’s under-23s took on Sunderland in the Checkatrade Trophy.

The occasion hardly seemed to faze the Stockport-born defender, however, and such experience playing up in senior competitions will provide a perfect platform for one of the most highly regarded players in his age group.

The Baggies consistently punch above their weight when it comes to producing elite talent, demonstrated in their FA Cup clash against Brighton, when they ended extra time with four academy graduates on the field.

One of those was Rogers, who came off the bench five days after netting four goals in an under-23s game. A striker with electric pace and versatility across the attacking line, his name will become more and more familiar – particularly if he stars in this summer’s U17 European Championship finals for England.

A goalscoring midfielder who’s drawn stylistic comparisons with Paul Pogba, Willock made headlines with a brace against Blackpool in the FA Cup third round but has only been handed one senior start since.

If Arsenal have been trying to convince him not to follow older brother Chris – now at Benfica – through the exit, they’ve hitherto failed to present a compelling case. Wherever he ends up, the England Under-20 international won’t stay quiet for long.

Fans of Spurs and beyond laughed at Tottenham’s failure to sign anybody summer, but such hysteria underestimated both Mauricio Pochettino’s willingness to trust young players and his ability to improve them.

Skipp took advantage by establishing himself as a reliable midfield understudy for one of the best sides in the country – so much that Pochettino likened him to “a 30-year-old man” after his first Premier League start in December.

The first 2001-born player to feature in the Premier League, Saka is in as much of a hurry to the top as he is to make an impact when crossing the white lines into battle.

The 17-year-old Londoner is comfortable at full-back or on the wing – like so many of today’s teenage wide men – and Unai Emery has already found ways to use his youthful exuberance. Saka is the latest in a long line of very promising players produced at Hale End.

Pep Guardiola hailed the personality, intelligence and vision of fellow La Masia alumnus Garcia after he made his Manchester City debut in December, then picked him again for both legs of the League Cup semi-final last month.

The Catalan centre-back represents everything City’s manager looks for in a modern defender; confidence and bravery in possession, pace in recovery and quick adaptation to the physical demands of English football.

A Premier League debutant just five months after turning 17, Harper continues to wait for his second top-flight appearance 18 months on – but West Brom’s relegation provided the prospect of more regular opportunities in the Championship.

The England U19 international featured in 17 league games for the Baggies as they missed out on promotion in the play-offs, and looks set to be a pivotal part of their engine room when they try again next term.

Tavernier netted three goals in the Championship last season, playing a bit-part role in Tony Pulis's goal-shy team which ultimately missed out on the play-offs. With the Welshman now gone, the young forward will hope for brighter prospects in 2019/20.

The Leeds-born winger’s composure and movement have really caught the eye on Teesside, and Tavernier promises an exciting career ahead at the Riverside.

The fact that Loader made just two appearances in India at the Under-17 World Cup probably says more about the sheer depth in quality of England’s 2000-born age group than any slight on the Reading striker, who scored twice in his only 90 minutes at that tournament against Iraq.

The Royals’ struggles have opened a door for the forward, who now has to take his chance with performances and goals on the senior stage.

Goals invariably follow Nketiah wherever he goes. He netted nine in 10 Premier League 2 games this term, managed a brace in his first meaningful run-out for Arsenal in October 2017, and scored the last goal of their season against Burnley.

However, he’ll celebrate his 20th birthday before the end of May and must face up the fact that he has little prospect of ousting Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the near future. Given that, the Lewisham native may be the next English teenager looking for a foreign loan to springboard his career.

Frank Lampard’s third-most-used player this season has enjoyed a terrific breakthrough campaign at Pride Park under the stewardship of the former Chelsea and England midfielder.

Full-back Bogle hasn’t looked back since being promoted to the Rams’ first team in September, and even caught the attention of a handful of Premier League clubs in January. Whether or not the Rams go up, the emergence of their dynamic young defender – eight assists and counting before the play-off final – is one significant plus point of 2018/19.

While most of his contemporaries on this list were cutting their teeth in academy football, Wilmot was starting for Stevenage Town in League Two as a 17-year-old centre-back.

A solid defender with natural maturity and an ability to read the game, his promise convinced Watford to part with almost £2m last summer, and the Hornets demonstrated their conviction in his quality with League Cup starts at Reading and Tottenham. An intriguing loan move to Udinese in January will only accelerate the development of a player Javi Gracia believes could end up in midfield.

Aarons is another defender who has grabbed his chance to shine this campaign, and his performances for the table-topping Canaries have earned him links with Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal since establishing himself in Daniel Farke’s starting XI.

Strong, athletic and attack-minded, he didn't miss a league game since August as Norwich stormed to the Championship title.

So good was his loan at Wigan that the Chelsea youngster – who’s played at right-back and in midfield as Paul Cook’s side look secured safety – that James made the Championship's official team of the year.

He flew under the radar during his formative years in the excellent academy at Cobham, but the 19-year-old’s combination of physicality and technique have boosted his stock in the last two years. Now he’s one of the Blues’ brightest prospects.

Clarke’s direct and effective play on the wing has made him one of the teenage stars of this Championship season, and he is now a trusted member of Marcelo Bielsa’s promotion-chasing Leeds side.

Two goals in 11 substitute appearance by New Year’s Day marked positive steps in his maiden senior campaign, and that string of impressive cameos off the bench were enough for him to start five of the Whites’ following six games before an untimely health scare. The York-born 18-year-old has most recently been linked with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

Born in Guinea-Bissau, raised in Portugal and developed by the academies of Benfica, Chelsea and West Ham before his move to Watford in August 2018, Quina’s journey to a Premier League first team has been eclectic.

A European Championship winner with Portugal at U17 and U19 level, the 19-year-old’s neat passing, evasive movement and bravery in possession have seen him become a regular member of Javi Gracia’s matchday squads.

Born in Nottingham, Woodburn was snapped up by Liverpool at the age of seven after moving to Cheshire with his family. Prodigiously talented from a young age, the gifted forward was included in the club’s “Futures Group”, a subset of academy starlets who were afforded the chance to train with first-team coach Pep Lijnders once a week.

Woodburn made the step up to the senior squad in 2016, making his debut in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Sunderland. He’s already won nine full caps for Wales and looks to have a big future ahead of him for both club and country.

Nuno Espirito Santo tended to stick with a settled starting XI, making very few chances to a Wolves side which qualified for Europe. Vinagre began to challenge Jonny Castro for the left wing-back berth at Molineux, though, and looks to have a bright future indeed.

The 19-year-old provides speed and thrust down the left flank, while he’s also assured defensively despite having little senior experience before this season.

It’s been a breakout season for a player likened to a young Kevin De Bruyne. Smith Rowe seized upon his Europa League opportunities at Arsenal – enough to convince Bundesliga side RB Leipzig of a loan spell for the rest of the campaign.

In joining Germany’s Anglo-youth gravy train, the 18-year-old Croydon native now has the perfect stage upon which to impress and earn a regular place in Unai Emery’s plans at the Emirates.

Dalot only made eight appearances for Porto’s first team before Manchester United whisked him away from the Estadio do Dragao, parting with £19m to land the teenager last summer.

Game time proved hard to come by early on in the campaign, but the Portuguese started 12 games in the Premier League by the season's end. Positionally astute and a powerful runner, Dalot can contribute in both attacking and defensive phases of play.

A transfer ban may instinctively sound like bad news for Chelsea, but there’s an argument that the Blues might actually be better off if they’re forced to take a longer-term view and promote some of the talented youngsters in their academy setup.

Ampadu is among those who will be hoping to take advantage of such a situation, with the ex-Exeter man having already made 12 senior appearances for the west Londoners. Able to play in midfield or at the back, the composed 19-year-old has already won six caps for Wales.

Not many Arsenal fans would have been expecting to see much of Guendouzi this season, with the 18-year-old marked down as one for the future when he moved to north London from Lorient last summer.

The midfielder has been a prominent member of Unai Emery’s first-team squad this season, though, playing 47 games in all competitions and catching the eye with his box-to-box running and all-action style.

A fearless attacking midfielder who has been utterly unfazed by the Premier League’s bright lights, Gibbs-White is a tremendously exciting prospect who looks ready to start for Wolves weekly.

A superb cameo performance against Tottenham in what was only his fifth top-flight appearance in November was followed by a man-of-the-match display in the 2-1 defeat of Chelsea a month later. A silky dribbler with an eye for a pass, Gibbs-White has a bright future ahead of him.

Another talented youngster fresh off the Manchester United production line, Greenwood made four appearances for Manchester United in 2018/19 – including at PSG, and a start against Cardiff on the final day of the season.

Two-footed and razor sharp inside the penalty area, Greenwood looks set for plenty more opportunities under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer next term.

Fulham were utterly dreadful in 2018/19 and will go down as one of the Premier League's worst-ever sides. As a result, Sessegnon didn't much enjoy his first experience in the top flight.

But it's easily forgotten that he's still only 19. Sessegnong was a regular starter in 2016/17’s promotion-winning campaign, starring at left-back or in a more advanced role on the flank. Quick, clever and technically gifted, he'll likely be a Spurs player before the summer is out.

Jadon Sancho hasn’t been the only English youngster pulling up trees in the Bundesliga. But whereas the London-born 19-year-old swapped Manchester City for Borussia Dortmund on a permanent basis, Nelson was only on loan at Hoffenheim from Arsenal.

Unai Emery will have been delighted with the progress he’s made in Germany this term, with Nelson scoring seven goals in 23 top-flight outings. Versatile and dynamic, the 19-year-old could be a first-team regular back in north London in 2019/20.

With Jadon Sancho having emphatically justified his decision to join Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City fans were relieved when Foden committed his future to the Premier League champions by signing a new long-term contract in December 2018.

He was a star of England Under-17s’ World Cup victory in 2017, has earned comparisons with Andres Iniesta for his velvet touch, probing passing and all-round creativity, and Pep Guardiola adores him. England's future in central midfield is safe.

Deeming Bayern Munich to be a better place for a young player to develop than Chelsea, Hudson-Odoi handed in a transfer request in a bid to push through a move to the Bavarians in January. The Blues dug their heels in and refused to sell, but it’s surely a case of “play him or lose him” given the winger’s incredible talent.

A powerful and skilful dribbler, Hudson-Odoi scored six times in 2018/19 before a mid-March Achilles tendon injury ended his season. “He can be the best player in Europe in two or three years,” was Maurizio Sarri’s verdict in November.

In football, you’ve got to dedicate yourself to get opportunities. It’s so competitive, and there just aren’t many jobs out there compared to other industries.

When I was at college and university, I used to do some player and opposition scouting for local non-league teams. Once I’d built up a portfolio of reports, I sent them to as many of England’s 92 best clubs as I could find email addresses for.

Generally my non-league reports were pretty basic, but you have to start somewhere, don't you? I did a few opposition reports for Ramsbottom, mainly focusing on strengths and weaknesses of opposition, how to exploit them, general patterns of play and key players.

I also did some independent player work to send around to different clubs – I remember being really impressed with a young Denis Suarez, now at Arsenal, playing for Manchester City’s under-23s in a game at Rochdale.

Luckily, I received a few replies and was soon working (voluntarily) for Crystal Palace as a regional scout, alongside some other (voluntary) work for Manchester United’s foundation.

But then I got a break.

Barnsley gave me an internship as a performance analyst and I quickly learned a lot being in a football club day to day, mixing with players and staff during the week and on matchdays. The club took a chance on me full-time when they decided to create a new recruitment department after Lee Johnson was appointed as manager in 2015, and I’ve been there ever since.

I’ve worked under five managers, and there’s always something new to learn; each one brings with them different philosophies and ideas.

Coach's orders

Our current head coach Daniel Stendel has been great to work with since he took over last June. He brings a fresh approach having spent his whole career in Germany, including a year managing Hannover.

He's very clear in his style of play, and that’s absolutely vital for the scouting team when we’re identifying players, so we know exactly what he wants and expects from each position.

Barnsley have a specific playing identity: a front-foot style, focusing on defending from the front and attacking at pace. Last summer, the club made a conscious decision to adopt a counter-pressing style; a philosophy that Daniel embraces.

The scouting team itself has a centralised team of three recruitment analysts who work from the club base. On top of that, we have three regional scouts placed around the UK, and a chief scout who travels the country and reports back for meetings.

An average day would involve focusing on one player from our 'watch list'. We’ll look at him in several games, analysing every action, and submit a report afterwards reviewing his performance, data, plus any additional information that might be useful (such as their contract situation and even personality, more on which later).

Dependent on the day I might also watch our under-23s if they’re at home, check up on our under-18s via video clips, watch first-team training or get out to a midweek game in the evening. This isn’t a job for those inclined to get bored watching football...  

All of the information we gather then gets sent back to base – the management team have full access to the reports we submit daily on players – and we’ll have a weekly meeting to discuss any interesting players that have been highlighted. From there, we can plan our workload for the week ahead. We’re a relatively small department compared to many clubs, but we watch 50-60 games a week in the UK and Europe, both on video and in person.

I'll admit, though: it's hard to just watch a 'normal' game now. You're always looking at them with the emotion taken out, and trying to see it for what it actually is. The World Cup was good because I could enjoy some international football as a supporter, and I try to get away a couple of times a year. I'm still a fan at heart, so if there's football on TV at any level I'll generally watch it, but there are times when it's nice to get away. I always do so for a few days after a transfer window closes – it's a good way to reset mentally, and then you feel like you can really start looking ahead to the next one with a fresh focus.

Tell you what I want

We’re looking for players who we think are capable of playing at or above our level and, importantly, have the attributes to suit our style of play.

The suitability aspect is key. There might be an excellent player who is simply unable to fulfil the positional demands our head coach is looking for, so just wouldn’t be a worthwhile addition for us. For another team, he might be perfect.

In recruitment, it’s vital to plan for every eventuality and have a list of players for each position going into a transfer window. Of course, depending on specific areas the manager is looking to improve on and the contract situation of players in your own squad, there are always priority positions that you’ll spend more time on than others.

We often have meetings where we present players formally to the manager, supplying him with all the supporting information we have and a video showing their strengths and weaknesses. The head coach gives us his thoughts, and may want to follow it up by going and watching the player himself. Unsurprisingly, he always has the final decision on any players we sign.

Success stories

Pleasingly, we’ve had some good success in recent years, with a lot of our players gaining high-profile moves after a stint at Oakwell.

The most notable is probably Alfie Mawson, who moved to the Premier League with Swansea in 2016, and still plays at the top level with Fulham. It’s always great to see players you’ve helped bring to the club succeed, but it really is a team effort as so many people are involved in the success of a player.

Ethan Pinnock, who's been outstanding since we signed him from Forest Green Rovers, is a perfect example of that. He went through the full process of being initially identified through data, and was then watched in four games on video and five times live by different members of our team. I remember making the seven-hour round trip to watch him, only for him to get injured 15 minutes in. That was a long drive home.

I was back out to watch him several times before the end of the season, though, including at Wembley in the National League play-off final. Once you get the player, it’s a relief and job done for us. Then it’s up to our coaching and backroom staff who get to work on the training pitch.

The process

We like to make sure several of our staff have seen the same player, and we use different methods – including live games, video and data analysis – for each one. It’s quite fluid, and something we look at as a team as the process evolves: there’s no one person with a specific role of just identifying talent or just looking at the data.

Data is obviously an important part of the modern recruitment process. It helps you gain insight on players and can be particularly helpful in the initial trawling phase before you start to work through and look at players more in-depth. It can give you information that the eyes of a scout can’t – just like the eyes of a scout can see things the data can’t. It’s important to have a combination of the two.

Each club uses data differently, and no one wants to give much away to keep ahead of rivals.

You can never be 100% certain when signing a player, as there as so many variables, but our job is to minimise the risk.

Clubs don’t only assess their playing ability, but also gather as much intelligence and information on the personality and character of potential targets. It can be as simple as looking through his social media, or contacting one of his previous coaches for a character reference. How does he react to high-pressure situations? Is he doing extra work after training to try to be the best he can? Or is he the player who comes back to pre-season overweight, having not completed his summer gym programme?

We always want to find out what we can about any of our prospective targets, although it can be more difficult to find out about some players than others (that’s usually a good sign, mind).

It's not necessarily make or break, but it’s always beneficial to know as much as you can before a player comes into your environment. Good personalities can make all the difference in a dressing room.

SEE ALSO Marvin Sordell column: Let me change your mind about footballers' off-field activities

New features you’d love on FourFourTwo.com

All the best players start somewhere, but some seem to begin earlier than others. Here, in association with our pals at YouthHawk, we've put together the 50 hottest prospects in English football today.

Our parameters are simple: we looked for teenagers who are quite fine at football and contracted to English clubs right now. That's it (sorry, Jadon).

Some clubs have a thriving youth setup that's constantly churning out a new generation of would-be world-beaters, if not always providing them with the platform to show what they can do. Even teams that struggle to invest in their youth systems still manage to unearth the occasional superstar-in-the-making, however – and our list combines students from some of the country's best academies with the standout performers elsewhere.

Here are the top 50 teenager players we're most excited about right. If you think we've missed someone, let us know at @FourFourTwo...

50-31 • 30-11 • Top 10

50. Amadou Diallo (West Ham)

Image: West Ham United FC

The second-youngest player on our list checks in at number 50, but despite only just having turned 16 he’s already well on his way to the top.

While preparing to sit his GCSEs this summer, the talented attacking midfielder has been impressing for West Ham’s under-23s, and is hopeful of being the next youngster to earn playing time under manager Manuel Pellegrini.

The two-footed Diallo is a keen dribbler with a dangerous shot, and is one to watch very closely indeed.

49. Jude Bellingham (Birmingham)

Bellingham is the only player younger than Diallo on this list but, like his fellow schoolboy, has also taken to under-23 football far better than your average 15-year-old has any right to.

A regular captain of England at U15 and U16 level, the Blues youngster profiles as a modern-day midfield schemer with lovely balance, tons of creativity and an eye for goal.

48. Dru Yearwood (Southend)

While teenagers up and down the country struggle for playing time at the highest levels, the Football League continues to offer a platform to impress early and often – and that has particularly been the case at Southend United.

All-action midfielder Yearwood has asserted himself as a crucial part of Chris Powell’s team since breaking into the Shrimpers’ squad at the start of last season, standing out for his ability to win back possession and then thrillingly transition into attack. Big clubs are taking notice.

47. Michael Obafemi (Southampton)

Once eligible for Ireland, England or Nigeria, the squat, muscular Obafemi was brought to attention in December when he became Southampton’s youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer at Huddersfield.

It came a month after the Dublin-born striker committed to Ireland, and his star will surely continue to ascend throughout 2019 and beyond now that he’s working under Ralph Hasenhuttl – a manager who is exceptionally keen to give his young players a chance to shine at St Mary’s.

46. Stephen Walker (Middlesbrough)

In the space of five days late last month, Walker scored a hat-trick for Middlesbrough’s under-18s to kill off Everton in the Premier League Cup, and then joined MK Dons on loan until the end of the season.

The move provides a chance for the prolific forward to build on a fine first half of the campaign in which he made his Boro first-team debut and continued to earn England recognition.

Walker is a natural finisher with fluid movement, and helping Milton Keynes to promotion from League Two could be just the start for him.

45. Arvin Appiah (Nottingham Forest)

An ever-uncertain managerial situation at the City Ground has done little to halt Appiah’s trajectory into Forest’s first-team squad. The 18-year-old scored on his debut in the League Cup against Burton Albion in October, before signing a new long-term contract last month.

With Forest now trying to reclaim an identity under Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane, the East Midlanders could do a lot worse than turning to the famed Nigel Doughty Academy and begin to utilise Appiah’s exciting raw, attacking talent.

44. Adam Idah (Norwich)

And on the Daniel Farke revolution goes at Carrow Road. The opportunities handed out to the likes of Jamal Lewis, Max Aarons, Ben Godfrey and Todd Cantwell make this a very exciting time to be in Norwich’s academy.

Adam Idah is yet to join them in making a senior appearance, but the Irish forward’s goalscoring form over the last two years has earned him fluttering eyelashes from some of English football’s biggest clubs. He will likely get his chance under Farke before long.

43. Matt O’Riley (Fulham)

Were it not for injuries, O’Riley could have found himself in a similar position to Ryan Sessegnon by now.

One of the jewels in Fulham’s impressive youth setup, this tall and elegant central midfielder made his senior debut in August 2017 but has managed just two further appearances since. As a result, he has an interesting decision to make this summer as he approaches the end of his first professional contract.

Like so many English youngsters, the lure of the Bundesliga looms large. O’Riley may take some convincing to remain in SW6 regardless of whether Fulham are a Premier League team next season or not.

42. Ethan Laird (anchester United)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign at Old Trafford has delivered more than most Reds fans will admit they dared hope for, including the promise of more playing time for the best of their next generation of academy prospects.

Chief among them is Laird, a versatile defender who plays best at right-back but is also a capable central defender with size, speed and top-class decision-making. Injuries have afflicted him for some of this season, but with the prospect of a debut to come, it could end up being a year to remember for a player who joined the club aged eight.

41. Faustino Anjorin (Chelsea)

While their kids might not get the chance to shine at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s academy production line shows no sign of slowing down and former Blues are frequently turning up in matches across the country.

England Under-18 midfielder Anjorin, reminiscent of Michael Ballack when he’s at his dominant best, has already scored in six different youth competitions this season as well as for his country, and seems on course for a breakthrough into senior football before his teenage years are out.

Having just turned 17 in November, that would be no mean feat should it happen in the near future.

40. Luca Connell (Bolton)

“Passes and moves like a Premier League player.”

Bolton fans’ heady praise for a player who only made his first-team bow at the start of January may surprise some, but for anyone who’s had the chance to watch the versatile, shaggy-haired midfielder in action, it will be simple affirmation of what they already suspected.

His decent record in front of goal for the Trotters’ U18s caps an impressive attacking skill set, and the Liverpool-born Ireland youth international has already been the subject of bids from Premier League clubs.

39. Andre Dozzell (Ipswich)

Things haven’t quite gone to plan for Dozzell since he scored on his Ipswich debut as a tender 16-year-old in 2016; it's been injuries and his club’s tumultuous slide down the table which have blighted his progress.

Still only 19, the son of ex-Tractor Boy Jason has a wand of a left foot and the ability to control a game’s tempo from his favourite position in the middle of the park. Put together, it makes him an easy watch.

Dozzell might well end up taking a longer road to the top, but anyone willing to put their faith in him right now could end up snagging themselves a bargain.

38. Nathan Wood-Gordon (Middlesbrough)

Image: Middlesbrough FC

Part of Wood-Gordon’s rapid ascent to making first-team appearances while still only 16 can be attributed to his size. But he is far from merely an impressive physical specimen.

The son of former Boro defender Dean Gordon is mature beyond his years, looks like the consummate modern-day defender with good feet, and is a regular captain of his England youth teams.

37. Troy Parrott (Tottenham)

Calls from some quarters for the Dublin-born forward to lead Tottenham’s line in the absence of Harry Kane were highly optimistic, but they showed the esteem in which Parrott is held at Hotspur Way.

He only turned 17 in February but has hit the ground running since moving to London from Belvedere last season, and has already made an impact at under-23 level too.

36. Joe Gelhardt (Wigan)

Image: Wigan Athletic/Bernard Platt

Wigan’s youth system doesn’t immediately come to mind when you think of the country’s more underrated setups, but good work is being done up in the north-west.

That’s underlined by the presence of two of their products featuring regularly England U17 squads this season (see also: Jensen Weir). Gelhardt has frequently donned a Three Lions shirt since he was 14, and is a bit of a throwback centre-forward who knows where the goal is.

A first-team debut in August has helped to ward off interest from bigger clubs, and he signed his first professional contract in August 2018.

35. James Garner (Manchester United)

There are spectacular, flashy and eye-catching prospects, and then there’s Garner. But don’t read that the wrong way.

The 17-year-old is rock solid with the composure of a grizzled veteran, and it seems inevitable that he will join the glittering, growing list of successful midfield graduates at Old Trafford. He has already been mentioned in passing by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a player of interest, and a first-team debut before the end of the season could come his way.

34. Harvey Elliott (Fulham)

Fulham's desperation to keep another of their special talents forced them to accelerate Elliott’s development through their academy ranks – culminating in the 2003-born midfielder becoming their youngest-ever player in the League Cup at Millwall in September 2018.  

Bigger clubs will continue to circle while he can't sign a professional contract until April 2020, but Elliott can be reassured that there is a proven pathway into senior football at Craven Cottage... even if he might have to take his GCSE exams first.

33. Angel Gomes (Manchester United)

Gomes is not your typical English footballer. His laid-back, languid and laconic style often makes it look as if a game has passed him by but, trusted by the right manager, he can make a midfield tick in a way that many other players simply cannot.

He became the Premier League’s first 2000-born player on the final day of 2016/17, and although still short of stature, he continues to develop nicely.

32. Rhian Brewster (Liverpool)

Having been crowned under-17 world champion and finishing as the tournament’s top goalscorer in October 2017, Brewster looked destined for a thrilling 2018 that looked like his for the taking.

But then came a serious injury suffered just 12 days into the year, which ruled him out for the best part of its remainder. Liverpool won’t rush him back, but when he’s ready, the Reds have a natural goalscorer who could quickly shunt himself further forward in the pecking order at Anfield.

“With a little bit of luck – which you always need – we will have a lot of fun with him,” Jurgen Klopp smiled recently.

31. Dwight McNeil (Burnley)

A young footballer’s journey rarely follows a straight line, and McNeil has certainly experienced the twists and turns that most youngsters endure. Released by Manchester United as a 15-year-old, he earned a scholarship down the road at Burnley and eventually settled into a regular role under Sean Dyche this term – no mean feat at a club that isn’t noted for using young talent.

Deceptively quick, decisive and confident, the 19-year-old scored his first top-flight goal against West Ham in late December.

50-31 • 30-11 • Top 10

30. Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea)

There has been little reason for optimism at Portman Road this season as Ipswich hurtle towards League One – but Chalobah has stood out as a rare functioning cog in the Tractor Boys’ machinery.

While relegation is never a desirable addition to one’s CV, the physical tests and mental challenges of a difficult season in the Championship are sure to stand the 19-year-old in good stead for his next step.

29. Ben Brereton (Blackburn)

Another youngster showing that an exit from Old Trafford can open more doors than close them, Brereton spent his formative years in the Manchester United academy before moving on to Stoke and then Nottingham Forest.

It was at the City Ground where the clever striker really made his mark, scoring 20 goals in 15 games to break into Philippe Montanier first team while still only 17. His subsequent £7m transfer to Lancashire hasn’t yet lived up to expectations – just the three league starts in 2018/19 so far – but time is very much on his side to rekindle the spark that got fans so excited about him in the first place.  

28. Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Manchester City)

Eight days shy of his 17th birthday, Harwood-Bellis lined up in front of nearly 15,000 fans at the Stadium of Light as Manchester City’s under-23s took on Sunderland in the Checkatrade Trophy last month.

The occasion hardly seemed to faze the Stockport-born defender, however, and such experience playing up in senior competitions will provide a perfect platform for one of the most highly regarded players in his age group.

27. Morgan Rogers (West Brom)

The Baggies consistently punch above their weight when it comes to producing elite talent, demonstrated most recently in their FA Cup clash against Brighton, when they ended extra time with four academy graduates on the field.

One of those was Rogers, who came off the bench five days after netting four goals in an U23s game. A striker with electric pace and versatility across the attacking line, his name will become more and more familiar – particularly if he stars in this summer’s U17 European Championship finals for England.

26. Joe Willock (Arsenal)

A goalscoring midfielder who has drawn stylistic comparisons with Paul Pogba, Willock made headlines with a brace against Blackpool in the FA Cup last month but has only been handed two minutes of senior football since.

If Arsenal have been trying to convince him not to follow older brother Chris – now of Benfica – out the door, they have failed to present a compelling case so far. Wherever he ends up, though, the England Under-20 international won’t stay quiet for long.

25. Oliver Skipp (Tottenham)

Much was made of Tottenham’s failure to recruit new players in the summer, but such hysteria underestimated both Mauricio Pochettino’s willingness to trust young players and his ability to improve them.

Skipp’s emergence as a reliable midfield understudy for one of the best sides in the country has been understated but no less impressive, prompting Pochettino to liken his teenage enforcer to “a 30-year-old man” after his first Premier League start in December.

24. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

The first 2001-born player to feature in the Premier League, Saka is in as much of a hurry to the top as he is to make an impact when crossing the white lines into battle.

The 17-year-old Londoner is comfortable at full-back or on the wing, like so many of today’s teenage widemen, and Unai Emery has already found ways to use his youthful exuberance. Saka is the latest in a long line of very promising players produced at Hale End recently.

23. Eric Garcia (Manchester City)

Pep Guardiola hailed the personality, intelligence and vision of fellow La Masia alumnus Garcia after he made his Manchester City debut in December, then picked him again for both legs of the League Cup semi-final last month.

The Catalan centre-back represents everything City’s manager looks for in a modern defender; confidence and bravery in possession, pace in recovery and quick adaptation to the physical demands of English football.

22. Rekeem Harper (West Brom)

A Premier League debutant just five months after turning 17, Harper continues to wait for his second top-flight appearance 18 months on – but West Brom’s relegation has provided the prospect of more regular opportunities under Darren Moore in the Championship.

The England U19 international has featured in the Baggies’ last nine games since early January (starting eight of those), and looks set to be a pivotal part of their engine room as they push for an immediate return to the top flight.

21. Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough)

There are 13 teenagers with more minutes in the Championship this season, but none with more goals than Tavernier, who has netted once every 121 minutes on average this term – no mean feat in a team that has hardly scored freely.

The Leeds-born winger’s composure and movement have really caught the eye on Teesside, and Tavernier promises an exciting career ahead at the Riverside.

20. Danny Loader (Reading)

The fact that Loader made just two appearances in India at the Under-17 World Cup probably says more about the sheer depth in quality of England’s 2000-born age group than any slight on the Reading striker, who scored twice in his only 90 minutes at that tournament against Iraq.

The Royals’ struggles have opened a door for the forward, who now has to take his chance with performances and goals on the senior stage.

19. Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal)

Goals invariably follow Nketiah wherever he goes. He’s netted 26 in his last 29 starts in under-23 football, and even managed a brace in his first meaningful run-out for Arsenal in October 2017.

However, he’ll celebrate his 20th birthday before the end of the season and must face up the fact that he has little prospect of ousting Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the near future. With that, the Lewisham native may be the next English teenager looking for a foreign loan to springboard his career.

18. Jayden Bogle (Derby)

Frank Lampard’s third-most-used player this season has enjoyed a terrific breakthrough campaign at Pride Park under the former England midfielder.

Full-back Bogle hasn’t looked back since being promoted to the Rams’ first team in September, and even caught the attention of a handful of Premier League clubs in January. Whether or not the Rams make the play-offs, the emergence of their dynamic young defender is one significant plus point of 2018/19.

17. Ben Wilmot (Watford)

While most of his contemporaries on this list were cutting their teeth in academy football, Wilmot was starting for Stevenage Town in League Two as a 17-year-old centre-back.

A solid defender with natural maturity and an ability to read the game, his promise convinced Watford to part with almost £2m last summer, and the Hornets demonstrated their conviction in his quality with League Cup starts at Reading and Tottenham.

An intriguing loan move to Udinese in January will only accelerate the development of a player Javi Gracia believes could end up in midfield.

16. Max Aarons (Norwich)

Aarons is another defender who has grabbed his chance to shine this campaign, and his performances for the table-topping Canaries have earned him links with Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal since establishing himself in Daniel Farke’s starting XI.

Strong, athletic and attack-minded, he has more goals and assists than any other teenager in the Championship – having not missed a league game since August – and could be set for Premier League football next term one way or another.

15. Reece James (Chelsea)

No teenager has more appearances in the Championship this season than Wigan’s on-loan Chelsea youngster, who has played at right-back and in midfield as Paul Cook’s side look to secure safety.

James flew under the radar during his formative years in the excellent academy at Cobham, but the 19-year-old’s combination of physicality and technique have boosted his stock in the last two years. Now he is one of the Blues’ brightest prospects.

14. Jack Clarke (Leeds)

Clarke’s direct and effective play on the wing has made him one of the teenage stars of this Championship season, and he is now a trusted member of Marcelo Bielsa’s promotion-chasing Leeds side.

Two goals in 11 substitute appearance by New Year’s Day marked positive steps in his maiden senior campaign, and that string of impressive cameos off the bench were enough for him to start five of the Whites’ following six games before an untimely health scare.

The York-born 18-year-old has most recently been linked with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, after previous ties to more or less every other top-six club in the Premier League.

13. Domingos Quina (Watford)

Born in Guinea-Bissau, raised in Portugal and developed by the academies of Benfica, Chelsea and West Ham before his move to Watford in August 2018, Quina’s journey to a Premier League first team has been eclectic.

But it has surely been worth it for both him and the Hornets, who have already seen their paltry £1m investment pay off.

A European Championship winner with Portugal at U17 and U19 level, the 19-year-old’s neat passing, evasive movement and bravery in possession have elevated him to a full place in Javi Gracia’s matchday squad.

12. Ben Woodburn (Liverpool)

After bursting onto the scene weeks after his 17th birthday, becoming Liverpool’s youngest-ever goalscorer with a League Cup strike against Leeds, Woodburn has racked up almost 30 senior appearances in the subsequent 24 months.

He hasn’t quite been able to maintain lofty expectations – the Wales international was recalled from a loan spell at Sheffield United in January after just one Championship start – but the technically gifted and intelligent forward remains highly rated by Jurgen Klopp.

11. Ruben Vinagre (Wolves)

The Portuguese revolution at Molineux has taken Wolves to heady heights, and this season could yet finish with European qualification for the West Midlanders.

Vinagre made 13 appearances for the club on loan from Monaco last term, and he’s already bettered that return since his permanent switch from Ligue 1 in the summer.

The 19-year-old’s speed and willingness to carry the ball forward from wing-back suit Nuno Espirito Santo’s 3-5-2 perfectly, while defensively he has also adapted quickly to Premier League demands.

50-31 • 30-11 • Top 10

10. Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)

It’s been a breakout season for a player likened to a young Kevin De Bruyne. Smith Rowe seized upon his Europa League opportunities at Arsenal; enough to convince Bundesliga side RB Leipzig of a loan spell for the rest of the campaign.

In joining Germany’s Anglo-youth gravy train, the 18-year-old Croydon native now has the perfect stage upon which to impress and earn a regular place in Unai Emery’s plans.

9. Diogo Dalot (Manchester United)

Ashley Young’s new one-year contract at Old Trafford is good news for Dalot: the veteran provides able competition for the youngster, but can also help to mentor the 19-year-old Portuguese who joined from Porto last summer.

Dalot is a freight train of a full-back who has offered tantalising glimpses of what he can offer, and is likely to make the £19m spent on him last June look like an absolute steal in the long run.

8. Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea)

There’s been a lot to beat Maurizio Sarri with in his debut season at Stamford Bridge – and doesn’t he know it – but we’ll also add in some disappointment about how little Ampadu has been used so far this season.

The 18-year-old is already a star on the international stage with Wales, with whom he looks like a grizzled thirty-something veteran rather than a precocious teenager. Cup opportunities have been thrown his way, but he still hasn’t been afforded a single Premier League minute this term.

Given the level of talent he possesses, that surely has to change soon – for Chelsea’s sake.

7. Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal)

Guendouzi, in contrast to Ampadu, shows what might have been. They are kindred spirits when it comes to hair and playing style, but the Frenchman has injected vigour and attitude into an Arsenal team sorely lacking it.

He still has plenty to learn, but the 19-year-old’s rich experiences this season – his first in English football – will serve him well as he refines his game for the future. The all-action midfielder looks perfectly suited to English football.

6. Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolves)

The silky-smooth box-to-box midfielder started England’s Under-17 World Cup triumph as a bit of an afterthought, but by the final had become an integral part of the Three Lions’ success.

The same story is now unfolding at Molineux: in a thriving Premier League side packed with talent, Gibbs-White has emerged as one of the brightest lights in a particularly starry 2000-born generation.

He’s taken to top-flight football admirably, and the best is yet to come.

5. Mason Greenwood (Manchester United)

It’s a matter of when rather than if for Greenwood, who is yet to make his senior Manchester United debut. The smooth centre-forward can punish teams with either foot, and the quality of his finishing is at a different level to anything seen in youth football in recent years.

Greenwood is likened to Robin van Persie by some of those who’ve watched him closely, and Saturday mornings have been his playground for the last two years. It won’t be long before they turn into Saturday afternoons.

4. Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)

It’s important not to let Fulham’s woes affect how we think about Sessegnon. For much of the last two years he has been the most sought-after young talent in English football.

Still only 18, he has set records for playing time and goalscoring by a teenager in the Championship, and taken to Premier League football well in 2018/19 so far amid his side’s struggles.

Sessegnon is destined to move on from Craven Cottage eventually, and will be an England international for many years to come – regardless of current form.

3. Reiss Nelson (Arsenal)

For a couple of months in the late autumn, Jadon Sancho and Reiss Nelson took over German football. Week after week they ran amok in a country that welcomed them with open arms, deciding Bundesliga matches and positioning themselves superbly for the years ahead.

Nelson, unlike his boyhood friend Sancho, is still owned by an English club and Arsenal will be delighted with his progress at Hoffenheim. Versatile, dynamic and technically proficient enough for Barcelona to have once considered him an option at full-back, he should be back at the Emirates Stadium next season for full-time duty.

2. Phil Foden (Manchester City)

While English talent continues to struggle finding a pathway in the Premier League, there are few concerns about Phil Foden’s development.

Part of that is owed to the fact there can be few better managers to work under than Pep Guardiola, but even when taking into account the level of talent surrounding the 18-year-old, he could hardly be criticised for feeling like he might have played a bit more this season.

Foden is a generational prospect in every way, and how 2019 unfolds for the Stockport-born playmaker will be highly revealing. “He’s a player who is ready – ready to play,” Guardiola beamed after his teenage maestro’s two-goal display against Newport. 

1. Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea)

When Bayern Munich lodge a £40m bid for an 18-year-old English forward, people sit up and pay attention.

Chelsea certainly did, giving Hudson-Odoi more playing time in January than in the previous five months combined, all in the name of convincing him that his future lies in west London.

A transfer request was subsequently denied, and the saga now looks set to run right throughout the summer as one of the most brilliant young wide players around looks anxiously for opportunities at Stamford Bridge or elsewhere.

Since the transfer window closed, Hudson-Odoi hasn’t started a game for Chelsea, and featured for 19 minutes across two matches. Maurizio Sarri declared that his player needed to “respect the club, the academy, everything” when asked about the situation in late-January, but that’s hard for the teenager to grin through while the likes of Sancho, Foden and Nelson thrive elsewhere.

At what point do Chelsea relinquish and set their prized teenager free? Somebody, somewhere, needs to play him.

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Arsenal – Eddie Nketiah

“Nketiah needs to get games under his belt to develop. In the next two or three years, he needs to play 30 games for a club, and he’s not going to do that at Arsenal.”

So said former Gunners captain Tony Adams after Saturday’s FA Cup win at Blackpool, pointing to the success of Reiss Nelson at Hoffenheim so far this season.

The 19-year-old Nketiah had just started for the third time this season and has clearly outgrown Premier League 2 football, having managed as many goals as starts (7) this season for the under-23s. Most sides in the Championship would surely find room for him.

Bournemouth – Jack Simpson

An England U21 international despite having only played three cup matches for Bournemouth at the time of his international bow, the left-footed centre-back has impressed scouts country-wide and been linked with Steven Gerrard’s Rangers numerous times.

With the European Under-21 Championship on the horizon, and limited opportunities at the Vitality Stadium, it would be beneficial for the Weymouth-born defender to get more playing time under his belt between now and May.

Brighton – Viktor Gyokeres

Brighton’s expansive venture into Nordic football has brought players from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland to their development squad over the past year, and it’s Swedish winger Gyokeres who has impressed the most.

He made almost 70 appearances for Brommapojkarna’s first team before swapping Stockholm for Sussex a year ago, and has since helped the Seagulls win promotion to the top division of Premier League 2 football, where they now sit third in national title contention.

Gyokeres is far too good to be plying his trade at that level, and debuted for Chris Hughton’s senior team at Bournemouth in the FA Cup. Now he needs more opportunities at a higher level.

Burnley – Dan Agyei

A London boy who joined Burnley from Wimbledon in 2015, Agyei is no stranger to life on loan, having spent time with Coventry, Walsall and Blackpool in three different cracks at League One.

He’s still only 21, and the Clarets opted to take a more patient approach with him this season – rewarded with 13 goals in 20 appearances for the U23s before Christmas. Anyone seeking promotion to the Championship would be well-advised to take another look at a forward coming into his own and far more prepared to succeed in the professional game now.

Cardiff – Ciaron Brown

Photo: Cardiff City

Cardiff use their development squad like an old-school reserve team, with many of Neil Warnock's first-team squad getting the occasional run-out alongside a handful of trialists and the Bluebirds' best young players.

One of those, Brown, has made fine progress since joining from Wealdstone a year ago, and has added a goal threat to his game this season. He turns 21 this month, and his next step must surely be to get back out into the senior game and continue his progress onwards and upwards.

Chelsea – Luke McCormick

Chelsea’s vast loan network stretches from Bruges and Burton to Turin and Tenerife, though the rising stars of Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Reece James in the Championship demonstrate that there is plenty of logic in getting into senior football at the earliest opportunity.

McCormick was born 11 days after Mount and played in the same team as the Derby midfielder for over 10 years, but is still to get a first taste of senior football. Tenacious in the tackle, confident in possession and a willing forward runner, he ought to interest Football League managers looking for an injection of midfield quality this window.

Crystal Palace – Nya Kirby

After Timothy Eyoma’s Tottenham debut last week, 11 of the 18 outfield players in England's victorious U17 World Cup-winning squad have now made their senior bow.

Kirby is one of seven still waiting, and the timing at Crystal Palace is hardly ideal given Roy Hodgson’s struggles. The midfielder turns 19 at the end of the month and, with Blackpool and Charlton both reportedly interested in a January loan, a temporary new home makes sense for all parties.

Everton – Ademola Lookman

When Lookman debuted for Everton in January 2017, catching the eye with a stunning late goal as the Toffees beat Manchester City 4-0 at Goodison Park, the then-19-year-old was making his 50th senior appearance following a long run in the Charlton team before his £10m move to Merseyside.

He earned his first start the following month but has only made 17 in the two years since, seven of which came during a half-season loan in the Bundesliga at RB Leipzig. As Marco Silva rebuilds Everton in his image, it seems the Wandsworth-born winger may have to continue his development elsewhere for the time being.

Fulham – Luca De La Torre

Slavisa Jokanovic’s departure from Craven Cottage was a blow for Fulham’s prolific academy. The Serbian called upon several graduates of their Motspur Park setup during his reign, including American midfielder De La Torre, who even scored his first professional goal in September’s League Cup victory at Millwall.

Claudio Ranieri, however, has a relegation battle to fight and De La Torre will have to look elsewhere for a chance to shine. With 18 months left on his deal, a decision now will prepare him for the next stage of his career.

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Huddersfield – Demeaco Duhaney

The Terriers are doing things differently at youth level these days. Following in Brentford’s footsteps by eschewing the traditional academy system, they instead run an operation from U17 level upwards, which features the formation of an Elite Development Team that takes players released by other clubs and continues their progress.

Duhaney is one such reclamation project, released last summer by Manchester City, but he could arguably have had his pick of lower-league clubs there and then. The tall and elegant defender boasts the versatility to play anywhere across the back, and should be leaving youth football behind to show the adult world what he has to offer.

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Leicester – Darnell Johnson

It seems as if Johnson has been around forever. Often referenced as the godson of Leicester hero Emile Heskey, the powerful defender is still only 20 and a keystone in a Foxes U23 side challenging for the Premier League 2 title.

He is, however, one of a small handful of current England U20 internationals yet to make his senior debut. That should change this month, with Leicester possessing sufficient depth to make a more concerted effort to get some of their older prospects into the Football League.

Liverpool – Rhian Brewster

2018 was a difficult year for the England U17 World Cup winner. Last January he suffered a nasty injury in an U23s game that kept him sidelined for 12 months, so playing regular football again is clearly the main priority for Brewster in the second half of this season.

The cautious approach may be to keep him at Melwood, playing in Premier League 2 and training with Jurgen Klopp’s title-chasing Reds, though the talent is clearly there for the 18-year-old to branch out further afield if required.

Manchester City – Luke Bolton

Few neutrals, and even some Manchester City fans, will have been forgiven for not having heard of Luke Bolton before the Stockport-born wide man made a first-team impression during pre-season under Pep Guardiola last summer.

Reinvented as a full-back, the former forward’s industry and guile on the right side of the pitch showed he has many strings to his bow, and will have surprised those who had questions about his potential. He won’t impact things at the Etihad Stadium any time soon, though, so a loan move seems sensible.

Manchester United – RoShaun Williams

A month ago, this list might have included Angel Gomes, Tahith Chong or James Garner as some of Manchester United’s brightest young stars. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has since reportedly halted plans to farm them out on loan, preferring to keep those youngsters around the first-team squad for the rest of the season.

That leaves the next tier of hopefuls to head out instead. Williams was once considered to be among the very best, but hasn’t quite kicked on as expected and could do with a change of scenery and fresh challenge to showcase his ability. Blessed with the physical and technical traits of a modern defender, he could reward someone taking a chance on him.

Newcastle – Freddie Woodman

The England goalkeeping prospect pool isn’t exactly dry, but it’s short on stellar prospects and Woodman has been one of their better ones over the years.

A regular at every age group and an U20 World Cup winner in 2017, he got his first taste of professional football at Kilmarnock in 2017/18, but Newcastle didn’t find an appropriate follow-up this term.

He was given the chance to showcase his talent against Blackburn in the FA Cup, and really should be knocking Rafa Benitez’s door down this month to make sure he gets out there and gives himself a realistic chance of making Aidy Boothroyd’s U21 Euros squad.

Southampton – Harry Lewis

In truth, none of Southampton’s youngsters should be going on loan this month, as manager Ralph Hasenhüttl seems to be making it his mission to get a look at as many academy prospects as he can.

Six players have already made their debuts this season, with more set to follow, so really that leaves the likes of Harry Lewis to consider what’s next.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper is just two years younger than Angus Gunn, who looks set to be the custodian of the future at St Mary’s. With both Alex McCarthy and Fraser Forster also between him and the first team, nobody would blame him for beginning to consider his future. A loan move for the second half of the season would set him up nicely for a summer move.

Tottenham – Tashan Oakley-Boothe

Mauricio Pochettino continues to show that minutes are available for young academy players – but not everyone’s winning. Oakley-Boothe made his Spurs debut back in September 2017 but appears to have dropped down the Argentine’s pecking order.

A January loan may therefore be wise for the 18-year-old to remind everyone of his qualities, just like fellow 2000-born double-barrelled teens Morgan Gibbs-White, Emile Smith-Rowe and Callum Hudson-Odoi

Watford – Michael Folivi

From playing at Wembley in May for Boreham Wood to finishing the year with Watford’s U23s in a losing cause at Bristol City, Folivi continues to take two steps back for every step forward.

As consistent a goalscorer at that level as you’ll find, his 31 strikes for the Hornets have so far yielded just a brief and unsuccessful spell at Coventry and half a season in the National League with the Wood.

With little more to prove at youth level the striker must head out on loan, particularly if he harbours hopes of a long-term career at Vicarage Road.

West Ham – Reece Oxford

It’s hard to believe that Oxford was still a teenager until last month, such has been his profile in recent years as the latest great prospect to emerge from the east London academy.

He’s played for Reading and Borussia Monchengladbach in the three-and-a-half years since he became the Hammers’ youngest-ever player, but no West Ham appearance for a year nor senior involvement since May suggest the Edmonton-born defender has hit something of a developmental snag.

It seems the perfect time to find a fresh challenge with little to be gained from another six months in the U23s, and there ought to be no shortage of suitors for the pacey youngster.

Wolves – Benny Ashley-Seal

‘Nomadic’ seems a harsh word to judge the journey of any young player, but Ashley-Seal’s pathway fits the bill as best it could for any 20-year-old.

After starting out in north London with Arsenal and Tottenham, the striker signed for Norwich, where he was hand-picked by the Guardian as the Canaries’ best young prospect. But after leaving Norfolk, trial spells with Chelsea and Stoke didn't bear fruit.

He has finally settled in the Midlands: only two players have more Premier League 2 goals as he leads Wolves’ promotion tilt, and he got his senior debut for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team in the League Cup earlier this season. Further opportunities will be limited, though, and the Londoner’s efforts have surely caught the attention of Football League clubs desperate for a goal-getter.

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In recent years, Liverpool have made major structural changes to ensure a smooth pathway from academy to first team, and the appointment of Jurgen Klopp in 2015 provided the Reds with a perfect figurehead.

They cut the numbers at Kirkby by 15% in 2015 to ensure quality over quantity, and aimed to instil a measure of realism within their top-level prospects with a salary cap of £40,000-a-year for first-year scholars in 2016.

Their patience will be rewarded, in theory, by a £50 million redevelopment of the club’s academy ground to accommodate both first team and youth in one complex, with Klopp insisting: “We’re all desperate to get young Scousers through.”

The work began in 2018, with a view to completion by the summer of 2020, which provides a realistic timeline for the breakthrough of many youngsters currently on Merseyside.

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Despite Klopp’s reputation as a manager eager to give youth every opportunity, the German hasn’t debuted an academy player since Harry Wilson’s first and only appearance for the club at the start of 2017. Of the 11 to debut under Klopp, only Trent Alexander-Arnold has become a regular at first-team level, with four already having left the club and six starting the 2018/19 campaign away on loan.

However, the aim remains to follow Alexander-Arnold by starring in front of the Kop on a weekly basis – so which players have the best chance of making inroads under Klopp in 2019?

Rhian Brewster (18, striker)

Brewster spent much of 2018 on the shelf, having undergone surgery on ankle and knee injuries early in the year, but he has completed his rehabilitation at the first-team training ground as a show of Klopp’s faith.

Such is the manager’s belief in the 18-year-old, whose character is widely lauded within the dressing room, that he dismissed the opportunity to sign another striker in the summer transfer window.

An expert finisher whose all-round game developed rapidly with the under-23s, Brewster is primed for a big step up once he returns to full fitness.

Curtis Jones (17, attacking midfielder)

While doubts remain over the long-term role of Rafa Camacho, Jones looks poised to cement himself as a staple figure at Anfield.

“We see his potential and want to help him to be the best he can be,” Klopp told the club’s official website midway through pre-season, in which Jones starred. “As long as he is ready for that, the future is bright.”

The manager suggested that, so long as he ignored outside distractions, the tall, pacy, skilful and versatile midfielder has the potential to become a key man. The evidence so far suggests he he certainly does.

Adam Lewis (19, left-back)

Amid an academy coaching shakeup during which both Steven Gerrard and Michael Beale departed, and Barry Lewtas and Neil Critchley were promoted, Lewis has risen through the ranks and impressed them all.

The left-back – captain for the under-18s last term – has seemingly caught the attention of Klopp too, having been involved in first-team training towards the end of 2018.

With Alberto Moreno primed to depart in the summer, there is a strong likelihood that Klopp could look to promote from within and employ the tenacious, cultured Scouser as backup to Andy Robertson.

Herbie Kane (20, central midfielder)

Though both Wilson and Ben Woodburn are omitted from this list having already made their debuts, another loanee makes the cut in Kane.

After overcoming injury to establish himself as a key man for the under-23s last season, Kane has excelled in his first experience of competitive senior football with Doncaster Rovers.

An accomplished all-round midfielder, Kane has the confidence, quality and – importantly – industry to have proven himself a class apart in League One at just 20, and will be looking to impress Klopp in pre-season.

Bobby Duncan (17, striker)

After a dream return to Liverpool from Manchester City in the summer, 19 goals in 23 games for predatory striker Duncan have only boosted hopes that he can follow his cousin Steven Gerrard into the first team.

There is still a long way to go for the 17-year-old, with his off-ball work and hold-up play in need of refining, but he has already made his debut for the under-23s and trained with the first team.

Duncan will need to stay grounded, and already faces major competition in the form of Brewster, but if his goalscoring exploits continue it will be hard to ignore him.

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Neco Williams (17, right-back)

Though Martin Keown believes Alexander-Arnold is playing out of position as a right-back, there is no suggestion that Klopp will move him into midfield any time soon.

But beyond the local lad, there could soon be a paucity of options: Joe Gomez’s future is as a centre-back partner to Virgil van Dijk, and Nathaniel Clyne is seeking regular first-team football elsewhere.

If Klopp looks to the academy, he could find a ready-made alternative. While Williams is still very young and needs to find more consistency in his game, he looks to have the balance required to step up in future.

Jake Cain (17, attacking midfielder)

Such is the nature of youth football, prospects can emerge and fade within the space of a season. By the same token, a justified lack of exposure for age groups below under-18 level allows high-potential youngsters to break through undetected – and one such player at Liverpool is Cain.

He made the step up from Liverpool’s under-16s in the summer and laid on 10 assists in 17 games in the first half of the season. Klopp will no doubt be interested in his relentless creativity and work rate.

Ki-Jana Hoever (16, centre-back)

Just like Alisson, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri in the first team, teenage defender Hoever – a summer signing from Ajax – has swiftly taken up an influential role in the academy.

After receiving international clearance and debuting for the under-18s in September, the Dutchman has reached a new milestone every month: an U19 debut in October, U23 debut in November and promotion to first-team training in December.

He is still very young, but Hoever is now working with Klopp’s squad on a regular basis and looks to have the full package as a young centre-back. The ability to also play at right-back could work in his favour.

Rhys Williams (17, centre-back)

Focus on the likes of Nat Phillips, George Johnston and Conor Masterson as potential academy graduates at centre-back has dimmed in recent months, but Williams’s progress has continued.

While only 17, he boasts the physicality of a senior professional and blends composure on the ball with defensive strength that makes for bone-crunching challenges which reverberate around open-air youth stadiums. 

There is a faint similarity to Van Dijk in the Preston native, and though such a comparison is ludicrous at this stage, even a measure of the Dutchman’s talent could give him a shot under Klopp.

Paul Glatzel (17, striker)

While Duncan was the Reds’ top scorer throughout the age groups in the first half of the season, his U18s strike partner Glatzel wasn’t far behind – and arguably, his all-round game was even more impressive.

Glatzel scored 17 goals in 19 games in all competitions, captaining the U18s and serving as vice-captain behind Lewis in the UEFA Youth League... all before his 18th birthday.

His impact is quantified by goals, but Glatzel’s quality is in his creativity and industry. It can’t be long before Klopp and his backroom staff are forced to take notice.

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Aston Villa: Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (Forward) 

The England U20 international became Villa’s second-youngest player of all time when he made his first-team debut in a Premier League clash against Sunderland in March 2015.  

Three-and-a-half years later, he remains the brightest among a strong group of prospects at Villa Park, having refined his raw energy and instincts in front of goal into a more rounded game, while remaining just as prolific at youth level.  

With a fresh start under new manager Dean Smith, he has the opportunity to press a claim for more regular involvement than he was able to secure in Steve Bruce’s veteran-laden squad.

Birmingham: Jude Bellingham (Midfielder) 

At a club that has produced its fair share of academy graduates in recent years, including several England internationals, you might wonder why a midfielder still at school is our pick of the Blues’ next generation of prospects. 

Those who have watched Bellingham play will understand. The 15-year-old has captained his England age group at every turn, established himself in Steve Spooner’s U18 team at Wast Hills this term, and celebrated his U23 debut with the winning goal away to Nottingham Forest on Monday night.  

A precious midfielder who wants the ball and always looks to make things happen, he’s well on his way to emulating the likes of Jack Butland, Nathan Redmond and Demarai Gray in representing the Three Lions at the highest level. 

Blackburn: Jack Vale (Forward) 

It might not be soon, but Blackburn have a talent capable of leaving his mark at Ewood Park in Welsh forward Jack Vale. The Wrexham-born former TNS schoolboy was snapped by up Rovers in his mid-teens and fast-tracked into the Development Squad last season, then signed his maiden professional contract shortly after his 17th birthday.  

A proactive winger who enjoys running at opponents, Vale can also lead the line when asked – as he made clear with his eight-goal return last term, including a hat-trick in the FA Youth Cup.

Bolton: Dennis Politic (Forward) 

Politics and football should be kept apart, so they say, but in the case of Bolton’s Romanian forward Dennis, they’re made for each other.  

A wide forward who’s at his best cutting inside and driving towards goal, Politic has played a big role in improving Wanderers’ fortunes at youth level over the last two years, and is already one of David Lee’s best players at U23 level.  

He went viral last season after scoring from the halfway line against Sheffield Wednesday’s U18s and has the ability to make plenty more headlines in the next few years.  

Brentford: Josh Dasilva (Midfielder) 

England’s next generation of prospects have begun to realise that they hold the power to determine the direction of their careers, and it hasn’t been limited to the headlines generated by the likes of Jadon Sancho.  

Dasilva, who won the European U19 Championship with England last summer, opted against extending his contract at Arsenal, instead penning a four-year deal at Griffin Park.  

Tall, athletic and with a sweet left foot, his future as a powerful box-to-box midfielder will initially be nurtured by the Bees’ B-team, but a clear pathway into the first team is there for him to take.  

Bristol City: Lloyd Kelly (Defender) 

Kelly is actually almost established as a first-team regular at Ashton Gate, and destined for the top flight sooner rather than later. A silky-smooth left-footed defender who has shown ability to play as a central defender in either a back three or four, as well as a wider role, Kelly’s star has shone brighter than ever so far in 2018/19.  

His increasingly mature performances have belied his tender age (20) and helped him earn the England U20 captaincy during the most recent international break. If he continues his upward trend between now and next summer, Premier League clubs will almost certainly come calling.

Derby: Jack Stretton (Forward) 

There are few players in better form in the U18 Premier League this season than Stretton. The first-year scholar, a versatile prospect who has also featured in central defence, has started the new campaign with a glut of goals – headlined by four in an 8-0 win at Newcastle in late September. 

The former Nottingham Forest schoolboy – who was released from the Nigel Doughty Academy – appears intent on proving his former club wrong, and will be encouraged by the increasingly youthful look of the Rams’ first-team squad under Frank Lampard and Jody Morris.

Hull: Keane Lewis-Potter (Forward) 

On the Tigers’ books since he was 13, Lewis-Potter celebrated his first professional contract with the club back in February, during a season in which he scored 15 times for the U18s and another four for the U23s.  

Seven more in his first nine outings this season have confirmed his credentials as one to watch, and with Hull struggling at the bottom of the Championship, they could turn to their teenage hopeful sooner rather than later – the Tigers have averaged less than a goal per game in the first quarter of this campaign.  

Ipswich: Andre Dozzell (Midfielder) 

There’s very little like the excitement generated among a fan base when a young academy prospect breaks into the first-team squad. When he’s the son of a club stalwart and he scores on his debut, that excitement goes through the roof. 

But that’s exactly what happened to Dozzell in April 2016. It seems almost unbelievable that he hasn’t played a dozen matches for Ipswich since then, but a torn cruciate ligament ruled him out for the majority of last season. Now, though, he’s fit again and looking to make up for lost time.  

Dozzell is a naturally creative box-to-box midfielder with a cultured left foot, and will surely break into Paul Hurst’s midfield at Portman Road soon. From there, who knows?  

Leeds: Jack Clarke (Forward) 

At an increasingly Latin-influenced Leeds, it’s a young Yorkshireman who has set tongues wagging at Elland Road. Clarke has made rapid progress into Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team squad, and a debut against Brentford at the start of October was just reward for remarkable progress in the previous 12 months. 

The striker has netted 15 goals across two age groups in his U17 season, often from his favoured position wide in attack. A crafty dribbler with a wicked shot, Clarke’s promise was there for all to see under Bielsa in pre-season, and he looks set to be next off the production line at Thorp Arch.  

Middlesbrough: Nathan Wood-Gordon (Defender) 

(Wood-Gordon, second from right)

Dean Gordon is best remembered for his 200 league appearances as a Crystal Palace player, but he served Middlesbrough for four seasons from 1998-2002, and has given them even more in the form of his son Nathan.   

Wood-Gordon became the youngest player in Boro’s history when he made his debut in the League Cup in mid-August, aged just 16 years and 72 days.  

In the eyes of those who had watched his development, however, it came as no surprise: Wood-Gordon is mature and physically ready to compete alongside adults; a natural centre-back who plays with authority and composure, but with the technical ability to push into midfield and control the tempo from further upfield.  

Millwall: George Alexander (Forward) 

Sticking with a certain theme, Gary Alexander scored 25 goals for Millwall over three seasons between 2007 and 2010, including one of the finest strikes Wembley has ever hosted in the 2009 League One Play-off Final.  

If his son George can come close to emulating his achievements, he’ll be well on course for a similarly rewarding a career. Something of a throwback No.9, Alexander Jr. has made a promising start to emulating his old man, smashing 19 goals for the Lions’ U18s last season and weighing in with seven more already this term.  

If he can keep that up, the Alexander name could remain a popular one at The Den for a long time to come.  

Norwich: Max Aarons (Defender) 

Thirteen different nationalities are represented in Daniel Farke’s diverse squad at Carrow Road, but it’s a London-born, homegrown youngster who has caught the eye most for Norwich this season.  

Short in stature but big of heart, Aarons’ energetic outings at right-back have quickly thrust him into the spotlight for club and country. An England U19 call-up has followed, allowing him to slot in alongside his fellow 2000-born class that won the U17 World Cup last autumn.  

Having played further forward earlier in his career, Aarons is as comfortable in attack as he is in defence – as he capably demonstrated by chipping in with his first senior goal against Cardiff in August.  

Nottingham Forest: Arvin Appiah (Forward) 

Such is the depth of quality at the Nigel Doughty Academy these days, this accolade could quite easily have gone to someone else. Matthew Bondswell was lured away to the Bundesliga and the prospect of first-team football at Leipzig, and honourable mentions go to Alex Mighten and Ryan Yates – players born almost five years apart but with undeniably bright futures. 

Instead it’s England U18 international Appiah who stands out from the pack. A dynamic force anywhere on the left, he’s equally comfortable surging forwards with the ball from deep or arriving on cue to apply a finishing touch, but he’ll do everything with plenty of flair and confidence.  

When Forest knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup last January, one of their proudest days in recent years, they did so with a team full of academy graduates coached by the criminally underrated Gary Brazil. They’d do well to remember that as they go forward under Aitor Karanka.  

Preston: Connor Simpson (Forward) 

With Josh Earl now an established presence at Deepdale, attentions turn to the next one for North End. Simpson’s signing from Hartlepool last January went somewhat under the radar, but it shouldn’t have: his 6ft 5in frame and ability to help a struggling Pools side in the National League as a 17-year-old quickly earned the attentions of Football League clubs. 

Simpson returned to non-league last week with Hyde United on a short-term deal to continue his development. If he makes the progress expected of him, he’ll be in line for a lot more football at a much higher standard in 2019.  

QPR: Aramide Oteh (Forward) 

The Tottenham connection is strong at Loftus Road, thanks in no small part to technical director Chris Ramsey and director of football Les Ferdinand sharing a long history with N17. They’ve positioned themselves smartly to pick up some of the young players that haven’t quite made the grade at Hotspur Way over the past three years, and might have struck gold with Oteh.  

Stuck as the third- or fourth-choice striker in his age group when awarded a scholarship, the Lewisham-born youngster headed west and hasn’t looked back since. Sixteen goals for Paul Hall’s U23 side last season got him noticed, and a goal away to Burton on his full debut for the first team came less than a year after cancelling his Spurs contract.  

Steve McClaren’s first team have lacked goals this season and, with Oteh once again in prolific form at youth level, it might not be very long before they look his way again.  

Reading: Danny Loader (Forward) 

One of England’s U17 World Cup-winning heroes a year ago next week, Loader announced himself to Royals fans three months before everyone else when he scored four goals in a pre-season friendly against QPR.  

A competitive debut arrived soon after, still at the tender age of 16, and although he hasn’t stepped foot on the pitch for the first team since, his early-season form for Scott Marshall’s Under-23s has offered a timely reminder of that talent bubbling under the surface.  

Broad-shouldered and quick off the mark, Loader is comfortable leading the line or operating in a slightly withdrawn role, where he can combine his creative flair with his clinical nature in front of goal.  

Rotherham: Tyrone Lewthwaite (Forward) 

Watford’s loss could turn out to be Rotherham’s gain –  the Northern Ireland youth international continues to catch the eye up in Yorkshire. Released by the Hornets as a schoolboy, Rotherham took a chance on his potential and have been rewarded.  

Lewthwaite, blessed with athleticism and an eye for goal, netted a hat-trick for his country’s U19s, and Rotherham academy staff believe he’s central to their hopes of increasing the academy output at the New York Stadium in years to come.  

Sheffield United: Tyler Smith (Forward) 

There aren’t many players playing EPPP football who have scored as many goals as Smith in the past two years. Forty for the Blades at U18 and U23 level indicated that this summer was the right time for him to take his next step, so he penned a one-year loan agreement with National League side Barrow.  

England’s fifth tier can be a tough place for anyone, let alone a teenager taking his first steps in the senior game, but he’s acquitted himself well with six goals in 16 appearances so far, helping a team that avoided relegation by just a point last season to a confident mid-table spot.  

Smith is a typically modern forward with power and technical ability in equal measure, and is on the right track.  

Sheffield Wednesday: Matt Penney (Defender/Midfielder) 

The Owls have been one of the very best teams at Category Two level over the past five years, and the fruits of their academy labours have increasingly been reaped at Hillsborough in the Jos Luhukay era.  

Penney’s recent breakthrough is the latest example of that: the Chesterfield-born youngster has quickly become a fan favourite. He’s at home anywhere on the left side of the pitch, having moved smoothly between full-back and midfield roles.  

Confident in his technique and ability, and even an occasional goal threat – particularly from set-pieces – Penney will surely add that to his game as he grows into his new role as an Owls first-teamer.  

Stoke: Tyrese Campbell (Forward) 

A Monday hat-trick against Peterborough’s U23s in the Premier League Cup was the perfect way for Campbell to send a message to Stoke manager Gary Rowett in his quest for Championship playing time.  

He was bold enough to turn down the offer of a scholarship at Manchester City as a 16-year-old to improve his individual pathway, and the goals have flowed ever since his switch to Stoke. Sadly for him, first-team minutes haven’t quite followed as expected.  

Like his former Arsenal and Everton father Kevin, Campbell offers a terrific physical presence and is ready to help the Potters try to bounce back from Premier League relegation at the first attempt, but Rowett remains unconvinced. If it’s not going to be at the bet365 Stadium, it might well be somewhere else – he’s a youngster keen to get on with his career.

Swansea: Joe Rodon (Defender) 

Swansea treated the end of their seven-year stay in the Premier League as a chance to reboot the club. Out went Carlos Carvalhal and several expensive squad players, and in came Graham Potter, who was willing to dip into a successful academy setup.  

At the heart of that, and now at the heart of the Swans’ defence, is 20-year-old defender Rodon. A dozen games on loan at Cheltenham last season helped prepare him for the step up, and he couldn’t have looked more comfortable in Potter’s new-look team at the Liberty Stadium.  

Rodon is a natural leader who has spent his entire career at the club; assured in possession and keen to take on responsibility despite his tender years. A first Wales call-up arrived last week; it won’t be the last.  

West Brom: Morgan Rogers (Forward) 

West Brom’s striker factory has produced some big names in recent years. Saido Berahino, Chris Wood, Jerome Sinclair, Izzy Brown, Kemar Roofe and Jonathan Leko have successfully progressed into the professional game with varying levels of success, and England U17 forward Rogers is hopeful of surpassing their achievements entirely. 

Tall and athletic, he is supremely confident off either foot and goes about his business with minimum fuss. Rogers carries an elegance in his execution and, given the readiness of Baggies’ brass to hand first-team opportunities to their best and brightest, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him involved at The Hawthorns very soon. 

Wigan: Joe Gelhardt (Forward) 

Wigan were delighted when 16-year-old forward Gelhardt committed his long-term future to the Latics in August. For a long time, they were fighting off interest in his services from some of the biggest academies in the country.  

It’s not hard to see why he was so sought-after either; a throwback to the old-school English No.9, his record in front of goal for club and country is a strong one, extending recently to his first involvement with England at U17 level. Gelhardt made his first-team bow against Rotherham in the League Cup shortly before signing his new deal, and it certainly won’t be the last time he turns out for Paul Cook’s ambitious team this term.

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One-hundred-and-seventy days after Manchester City cruised to victory over Arsenal in the 2018 final, the League Cup returns with 68 teams in action as the first round gets under way.

With so much at stake in the promotion and relegation battlegrounds from League Two up to the Premier League, managers up and down the country will be shuffling their selection packs and utilising the full depth of their squads. For a host of youngsters, this could be a rare moment to shine…

Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea)

Could 2018/19 be the breakthrough season for England’s U17 World Cup winners? Morgan Gibbs-White made a Premier League debut at the weekend for Wolves, while Phil Foden looks set to remain part of Pep Guardiola’s plans at Manchester City.

Meanwhile at Chelsea, another new manager and the prospect of a season in the Europa League could open the door for Hudson-Odoi, who was one of the best performers for the Blues in pre-season.

With only Willian, Pedro and Eden Hazard ahead of him in the pecking order, the 17-year-old will be eyeing the League Cup as a stage to showcase his talents following four appearances under Antonio Conte last term. A favourable draw and decent run in the competition for the 2017/18 semi-finalists should give the exciting forward plenty of minutes to make an impression.

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (Aston Villa)

With Villa short of striking options and pitted against League Two opposition in the form of Yeovil, circumstances appear to have fallen kindly for Hepburn-Murphy. The teenager turns 20 later this month and has already played half as many minutes in the Championship this season (29) than he did throughout 2017/18 (59).

A slight but speedy frontman who knows where the back of the net is, Hepburn-Murphy has 24 goals in 35 appearances for Villa’s U23s and helped fire the youngsters to success in the Premier League Cup last term.

Scott Hogan and Keinan Davis have been struggling with groin issues, and Steve Bruce should err on the side of caution and keep Jonathan Kodjia on the bench, so Hepburn-Murphy will sense scope for playing time up front and should get his first senior start at Huish Park.

Albie Morgan (Charlton)

Charlton’s academy has long been a conveyor belt of young talent, in spite of the madness which permeates The Valley. Their latest teenager stepped out from the shadows at the start of the second half against Shrewsbury on Saturday.

Morgan became the first 2000-born player to represent the Addicks at first-team level and took little time to make his mark, playing his part in Karlan Grant’s stoppage-time winner as the hosts triumphed 2-1.

It was the 18-year-old’s first involvement in senior football, but manager Lee Bowyer has had the attacking midfielder on his radar for some time and will be tempted to shuffle his selection in Milton Keynes after a mixed opening to the new League One campaign. As the storm clouds fail to blow over in south London, Bowyer’s job to find the silver linings becomes increasingly difficult – but this latest graduate of the Charlton youth set-up could bring energy and hope to a frustrated club.

Marcus Tavernier (Middlesbrough)

After a summer window that has shorn Tony Pulis of attacking options, Tavernier will be eyeing the League Cup as a springboard to show the manager his full range of capabilities. The wide forward started all three games in last season’s competition under Garry Monk, scoring in a last-16 defeat to Bournemouth, and has featured from the bench in both their opening Championship fixtures this term.

A disappointing U19 European Championship for England was more positive for Tavernier on a personal note: the Leeds-born teenager featured throughout and scored against Ukraine.

With Middlesbrough having already played three times in eight days at the start of the new season, Pulis is certain to rotate against Kevin Nolan’s Notts County – which should open the door for Tavernier to assert his attacking credentials.

Arvin Appiah (Nottingham Forest)

Jody Morris knows a thing or two about young players, having won every competition he was involved in during two years as manager of Chelsea’s U18s. But now operating as Derby’s assistant manager, it was a tricky winger from rivals Nottingham Forest who caught Morris’s eye as he watched England beat Italy in the U17 European Championship this summer.

Appiah scored half a dozen goals for Forest’s U23s as they finished play-off runners-up last season, and finished the campaign as one of the key players for Steve Cooper’s young Lions, who were beaten in the semi-finals on penalties.

Appiah, technically impressive with an ability to ghost past defenders and impact games in the final third, has made steady progress and doesn’t even turn 18 until January. He will hope that Aitor Karanka at least rewards him with a place on the bench in these early rounds.

Josh Maja (Sunderland)

As the Championship trap door opened under Sunderland last May, their demotion to the third tier for the first time in 30 years at least opened a window of opportunity for a talented crop of youngsters at the Stadium of Light.

George Honeyman (born 1994), Lynden Gooch (’95), Bali Mumba (’01) and Josh Maja (’98) all started for Jack Ross’s side on the opening day of the League One season, and Maja has capitalised on successive starts with two goals in two games for the Black Cats.

While instant promotion will be the primary aim this term on Wearside, the locals could do with some cheer and a run in the League Cup might renew some hope at the Stadium of Light. Maja may have played himself into rotation, such has been his early impact up front – particularly as the fixture schedulers have afforded his side a day’s less rest than their League One competitors. A first-round tie against Sheffield Wednesday awaits.

Mallik Wilks (Doncaster, on loan from Leeds)

A powerful left-footed forward who scored 16 goals for Leeds’s U18s two years ago, Wilks doesn’t turn 20 until December, but is starting to realise the potential that earned him an FA Cup debut for the Whites back in January 2017.

A personal tragedy affected his development over loan spells at Accrington Stanley and Grimsby, but, with two goals in two games so far for nearby Doncaster, he looks the part.

Wilks is only on loan until January, and a hot run of form before Christmas could give Marcelo Bielsa food for thought at Elland Road.

Domingos Quina (Watford)

Watford paid £1m for West Ham’s creative midfielder on deadline day, which looks a bargain at first glance – particularly coming less than a fortnight after Quina helped Portugal to the U19 European Championship title.

The Hornets handed the youngster a four-year contract and the No.20 shirt; an indication of their plans to keep him around the first team set-up this season.

Watford have a propensity to rotate and haven’t got beyond the second round since 2013, so the League Cup ought to be the ideal stage for Quina to showcase the dribbling prowess and fleet-footed poise that prompted Slaven Bilic to remark: “If he doesn’t make it, then which player will?”

Tristan Abrahams (Exeter, on loan from Norwich)

Kazaiah Sterling (Tottenham), Tyrese Campbell (Stoke City), Ike Ugbo (Chelsea), Lukas Nmecha (Manchester City): the players who scored more goals in the 2016/17 FA Youth Cup than Abrahams, then of Leyton Orient’s U18s. That the O’s didn’t even make it beyond the third round demonstrates how prolific Abrahams was that season, scoring six goals in three matches.

Orient’s tumultuous 2016/17 campaign at first-team level saw them forced into fielding what amounted to their youth team for a number of matches en route to relegation from the Football League. Those youngsters were forced to grow up much quicker than planned, but the O’s weren’t to benefit hugely – their demise allowed bigger clubs to pluck the best and brightest prospects from east London.

Forward Abrahams went to Norwich, spent last season with their U23s and finished as their leading scorer, netting nine times in all – four in the Premier League Cup. He’s back in League Two on loan at Exeter, and an opening-day strike in victory over Carlisle was a timely reminder that the 19-year-old has what it takes to shine in the professional game.

Kane Wilson (Walsall, on loan from West Brom)

Highly-rated full-back Wilson made his senior debut for West Brom as a 16-year-old at the start of the 2016/17 season, and has made steady if unspectacular progress since then.

Still only just 18, he spent last term under the tutelage of Paul Tisdale at Exeter. He’ll spend the forthcoming campaign down the road from The Hawthorns at Walsall, and a pair of substitute appearances in the opening weeks of the campaign will have offered Saddlers fans a glimpse of the athleticism and maturity in his arsenal.

Korrey Henry (Yeovil)

Operating within one of the tightest budgets in the Football League, Yeovil are typically able to offer a clear and consistent pathway into professional football for younger, often less-heralded prospects. Former West Ham scholar Henry swapped the London Stadium for Huish Park this summer, signing a one-year deal and going straight into their first-team squad.

Able to play as a forward or a central midfielder, he’s robust with a cultured touch, and accounted for a huge percentage of goals scored by the Hammers at U18 level over the last two years. The Glovers took a chance and, not for the first time, they could be handsomely rewarded.

Phil Foden (Manchester City)

The 18-year-old they call ‘Pep’s lad’ at City’s Etihad Campus will be hoping his decision to stick around pays dividends this season after just 329 senior minutes in 2017/18.

But Guardiola knows a thing or two about developing young talent and will surely be pinpointing the domestic cup competitions as an opportunity for Foden to continue his steady rise to prominence.

An impressive Community Shield performance can only have aided the midfielder’s cause, and the likelihood of him starring in the early rounds of the League Cup seems high – particularly after the way his technique and flair stood out against Chelsea at Wembley. Against more mediocre opponents, Foden could cause serious problems.

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On a muggy November evening in Rio, Flamengo were in deep trouble. Down 3-1 and running on fumes in the second leg of their Copa Sul-Americana quarter-final, the Rubro-Negro were watching their last chance of a trophy slip through their fingers. The fact that their opponents were bitter rivals Fluminense made the situation close to unbearable for those packed into the Maracana.

But some movement on the bench provided a much-needed injection of hope. Finally, after an hour of encouragement from the stands, Reinaldo Rueda gave the fans what they wanted: on ran Vinicius Junior, Fla's teenage talisman, eyes and braces glinting under the floodlights.

What followed was an exhibition – not of perfect decision-making, but the game-changing power of raw talent. Vinicius was electric, helping to tee up Felipe Vizeu's strike three minutes after entering the fray and proceeding to terrorise the Flu defence with a series of quicksilver dribbles down the flanks. The crowd seemed to hold its collective breath every time he demanded the ball – and he demanded the ball a lot.

It was midfielder Willian Arao who eventually put Flamengo through, but few were in any doubt about the identity of the game's chief protagonist. Vinicius had neither scored nor directly assisted a goal, yet his energy had altered the whole feel of the tie, swinging it decisively in his team's favour. "I set the game on fire," he said. While he won't be winning any prizes for modesty, it was a fair assessment of events.  

Later that evening, when the dust had settled, SporTV anchor Andre Rizek spoke put it in even concisely: "He's not normal."

Under the microscope

That much became patently clear a year ago today, when Real Madrid confirmed the purchase of Vinicius from Flamengo for an eye-watering fee of €45 million. That announcement, and the attendant fanfare, instantly guaranteed that his development would be pored over in startling detail – both by his new club and by supporters looking to catch an early glimpse of genius.

The consensus in Brazil at the time was that this was a player of huge potential, but one with plenty of rough edges; he had, after all, yet to even train with Fla's senior squad when his image was first plastered on the cover of Marca. Many feared that the extra scrutiny would be more likely to hamper his progress than hasten it.

Those concerns have largely faded in the interim, but his journey has nonetheless been a rollercoaster so far. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the kid who went from virtual unknown to superstar-in-waiting in the blink of an eye last May has crammed an awful lot into his first year as a professional.

Up, up and away

Vinicius’s first few first-team outings were not hugely impressive: he looked nervous on debut against Atletico Mineiro and overly eager in the games that followed. Yet the excitement in the stands was palpable, and his first assist, on June 14, was just reward for a lively performance against Ponte Preta.

He would have to wait a little longer for his maiden goal – 14 appearances, to be precise – but an opportunistic effort against Palestino lifted a weight from his shoulders. "Everyone was waiting for that," he admitted, before thoughtfully dedicating the strike to departed coach Ze Ricardo. Three more followed before the year's end, all showcasing the searing pace that makes him a tiring defender's worst nightmare.

The campaign would end in disappointment for Flamengo, who were thwarted by Independiente in the Sul-Americana final, but Vinicius at least had some solace written into his calendar: a trip to Madrid, with his dad and brother, to meet a few of his future colleagues. "It gave me butterflies," he later said. "I met Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo, Casemiro – players I had only seen in video games."

The crying game

If that reaction hinted at an endearing, starry-eyed innocence, Vinicius's next major act made clear that he is also very much up to speed with football's more abrasive side.

After curling a stunning effort into the far corner in the clássico against Botafogo, the youngster celebrated by putting his fists to his eyes and imitating a child in tears. Nothing too harmful in that, you might think, but this chororô (crybaby) routine – which dates back to a controversial refereeing decision in 2008 – is like a red rag to Bota players, and a lively discussion ensued in the middle of the pitch.

"It was done in the heat of the moment," Vinicius explained after the game. But that didn't appease Botafogo, who cattily refused to let Flamengo use their Engenhão stadium for the final of the Taça Guanabara the following weekend. A club statement called the celebration "an act of disrespect".

The backlash to the backlash

That struck most as an absurd overreaction, but there was little doubt that Vinicius knew what he was doing, and a straight red card in the next meeting between the sides turned the pressure cooker up another notch. Thoughts naturally turned to Neymar, the country's last boy wonder, whose own disciplinary issues as a teenager had led one coach to tut that Brazil was "creating a monster".

Thankfully, some influential names were on hand to preach calm on this occasion. "Vinicius is a sensational kid going through a delicate moment," said Diego, one of Flamengo's elder statesmen. "We have to understand his mistakes. That daring style of play draws attention, and being sold to Real Madrid means some people have expectations that he is not yet able to meet."

Junior, the former Brazil full-back, was also having none of the backlash: "If I was a relative of his, I would tell him to go [to Madrid] now, because he would have a lot more peace. He's in the eye of the storm: everything he does is being blown out of proportion. He's only 17; hardly anyone reaches full maturity at that age."

As always in football, the best responses are given on the field, and Vinicius drew a line under the affair in sensational style by netting twice off the bench to seal a 2-1 comeback win against Emelec in the Copa Libertadores. "Moments of genius worthy of Ronaldo Fenômeno," swooned AS of the winger, who himself trotted out a nice line with amusing ambivalence: "Lots of people are criticising me, knocking me, but I'm working hard with my head held high."

Room to grow

There have been more nuanced criticisms. "Too much individualism, not enough teamwork," was Flamengo idol Dejan Petkovic's assessment earlier this month, while commentator Francisco Aiello is among those who have noted that Vinicius struggles to reproduce the intensity of his cameo appearances when he starts matches.

Both of those are legitimate concerns, but with an obvious age-related caveat. He doesn’t turn 18 until mid-July. Vinicius is still feeling his way into his senior football, collecting milestones – he only opened his account at the Maracana last week – and learning on the job from his mistakes. Consistency will come, as will greater understanding of his weaknesses.

There has been some talk of him joining up with Madrid earlier than scheduled – he will spend next season on loan at Flamengo as part of the agreement – but the player himself seems keen to stick around in Gávea until 2019. "My plan is to stay at Flamengo and really mature," he said in January. "If it's up to me, I'll stay and help those who have always helped me. I have a lot to give."

He has a lot to learn, too. But if this last year is anything to go by, his joyride through the syllabus should be worth watching.

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Jean Michael Seri was one of the most widely discussed players in football last summer. The Ivorian midfielder was the influential player at Nice as they emerged as the surprise package of Ligue 1, finishing third and qualifying for the Champions League play-off round (which they subsequently lost to Napoli).

Seri’s massive success nearly earned him the dream move of all dream moves to Barcelona, but the move wasn’t completed amid reports that Nice had upped their asking price after pesky late 'interest' from PSG (much to the aggravation of his agent).

In 2017/18, Seri’s performances haven’t quite been up to the standards of last season – a byproduct of Nice's decline – but they’ve still been solid enough to make him a top transfer target once again. With rumours of a move to Arsenal picking up steam, it’s time to look at what kind of player the Gunners could be acquiring – and whether they should even be trying to land him in the first place.

Style of play

If there’s one word to describe Seri’s style, it’s smooth. There’s a lot that he can do with the ball: his long-distance passing is very good in terms of both volume and accuracy, but he isn’t someone who just hits long balls to static targets for the sake of it. More often than not, those passes shift the defence out of their comfort zone just enough, and give the attack a chance to create something dangerous.

When he isn’t passing long, the 26-year-old does a very good job piercing defensive lines and catching opponents off-guard. The versatility of his passing is his greatest strength as a player.

Seri isn’t just someone who only helps with progressing play; he creates chances as well, and has produced 2.3 key passes per 90 minutes this season – the sixth-highest amount in Ligue 1. When the opportunities arise, Seri gets into advanced positions to make an impact, using his mobility in tight areas before passing to a team-mate, or making runs into open space. Essentially, there’s diversity to the way he carves out openings. 

There’s a lot to like about Seri without even mentioning that he’s scored goals at a respectable rate considering the type of player he is (one every 11 games in his Nice career).

He isn’t perfect, though, despite the clamour for his signature. Because Nice play in a non-pressing 4-3–3, it’s hard to know just how well he’d fit if he went to a team that played more on the front foot. It would also be fair to suggest that at Nice, Seri isn’t someone who contributes greatly to the defensive phase of play, so there’s a balancing act here. Would he have enough time in possession in a tougher environment like the Premier League to be given this allowance?

It’s no secret that Arsenal could do with having some new blood in midfield, and on the face of it, Seri going there makes some sense. But there are two sides of the argument.

The case for...

Arsenal’s attack, and the squad in general, hasn’t quite been the same since injuries took their toll on Santi Cazorla. The Spaniard was so valuable because of his abilities as a dribbler in deeper areas, as well as his pinpoint passing that helped an Arsenal squad which depended on individual talent to compensate for structural issues in attack.

While it would be going too far to say that Seri on the ball is as good as Cazorla was at his peak, he’s not too far off – especially with his ability to break defensive lines on a consistent basis. The Ivorian also brings value with his dribbling in various areas of the pitch.

He'd certainly bring more life to Arsenal’s attack, make the lives of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang easier, and ultimately get them a bit closer to Manchester City and Liverpool in terms of attacking potential.

The case against...

Arsenal could be staring at a considerable revamping of their squad. It might take multiple summers before they're one of the best squads in the Premier League once again, and could therefore accentuate the gifts that Seri would bring.

By that point, Seri – who turns 27 in the summer – would be nearing 30, and though his style of play is conducive to ageing gracefully, that’s still a risky proposition. Admittedly, Arsenal not yet naming a new manager to replace Arsene Wenger makes this a tough exercise, but it would be hard to construct a midfield involving both Seri and Granit Xhaka without some defensive fragility (especially if they were a duo in midfield, rather than part of a three).

Verdict

Seri is a classy playmaker and has been consistent enough over his last three seasons in France for clubs like Arsenal to take a serious look at him. He’s a fine passer of the ball who has proved hard to contain in midfield for his opponents.

He also carries weight because of his attacking contributions, having scored/assisted at a rate of 0.32 per 90 minutes over the past three seasons (goals from penalties removed). That's a solid rate for a player who often acts as the deepest of a three-man midfield. 

So should Arsenal sign him? Even though there’s ample evidence to suggest that Seri's talent would help a club of that level, it could be that the squad just isn’t at the point yet where this would be a smart move for them to go through with – and that his age makes this a possible marriage which should have happened a couple of years ago.

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The 60-second story

Caglar Soyuncu’s rise has been quite remarkable. Just a couple of years ago he was still playing for Altinordu in Turkey’s second division, but now he’s being linked to Arsenal and Manchester United – and some reports even suggest that a move to the Gunners is imminent.

The 22-year-old is already respected in the Bundesliga, where his performances for Freiburg have caught the attention of pundits and fans alike.

The modest club from the Black Forest were relegation-threatened last season, but Soyuncu has benefited from stability and gradually improved his game under the guidance of their brilliant coach Christian Streich.

Why you need to know him

Back in 1996, Turkish fans were astonished when national team coach Fatih Terim took anonymous defender Vedat Inceefe to the European Championship as a second division player with Karabukspor – and even put him in the starting lineup for every group stage game.

The unexpected exposure helped Inceefe get a transfer to Galatasaray that summer and make a decent career for himself, even though he never played for Turkey again. He knows better than anyone that football is a meritocracy, though, and Soyuncu is fortunate that Inceefe is the U19 national team coach nowadays.

It’s only logical that Inceefe wasn't afraid to trust Soyuncu for his squad in 2014, even though the youngster played at an amateur level back then. Performances were promising, though, and by 2015/16 Caglar was irreplaceable at the heart of Altinordu’s defence.

Such was his progress that he followed Inceefe's footsteps and made his debut for Turkey as a second division player. Amusingly, the coach was Fatih Terim again, and he included the centre-back in his provisional squad for Euro 2016. However, Soyuncu was disappointed to be left out when the final squad was announced.

Scouts were alerted anyway, because Soyuncu felt like a incredible bargain. Sevilla – still under brilliant sporting director Monchi at the time – were naturally keen to sign the rising star. The youngster chose a smaller club in Freiburg, though, deciding that the Bundesliga was the right league for him, at a club he would have a decent chance of playing for weekly.

It proved to be the correct decision. Freiburg fans were a little surprised that the club spent €2.5 million on an unknown player – a significant sum by Freiburg standards – but injuries forced Streich to play Soyuncu immediately at the beginning of 2016/17.

The Turkish prodigy experienced language problems, and it took him time to get accustomed to a much faster pace and more professional attitude, but the raw talent was there to see despite numerous mistakes. By the end of the season, he was considered one of the best young players in Germany, and rumours were rife that top Premier League clubs were circulating. Arsenal were closely linked, but Leicester appear keenest to land him this summer amid rumours of Manchester United interest in Harry Maguire. 

Soyuncu has become a certain starter for the national team under Mircea Lucescu, and seems destined to become one of the leaders of a new generation.

Strengths

Soyuncu, a ball-playing centre-back who’s always willing to start attacks from behind, combines combative character and physical presence with elegance, prompting comparisons with Mats Hummels. The Turk possesses a brilliant range of passing, and is able to send precise long balls with both feet.

Originally right-footed, Soyuncu worked countless hours on his left, and now it's quite difficult to spot the difference – especially because he mostly plays as a left-sided stopper. At 6ft 2in he isn’t bad in the air either, although his positioning isn't always perfect.

The young stopper is dedicated, hard-working, humble and always willing to learn. Having come from a modest background he hasn't changed his attitude after becoming more famous, as his choice of Freiburg clearly shows. His role models are also indicative – apart from Hummels, the stopper admires Carles Puyol and Diego Lugano. Whoever signs Soyuncu would get an excellent professional with outstanding potential.

Weaknesses

Soyuncu is not the finished article by any means. His positioning is improving, but he still has a lot to learn and he’s caught in the wrong spot quite often.

His tendency to act as a playmaker from deep has also led to some careless decisions – although some would call them bold. Scoring isn’t his strongest asset either yet, as just one goal in two Bundesliga seasons shows.

The Turk is still very inexperienced at the top level, and mistakes would be unavoidable. He certainly shouldn't sign for a manager who doesn't trust young players, because such a move could ruin his career.

They said...

“The way he got accustomed to a completely different culture had been amazing. It shows very good character,” said Freiburg captain Nils Petersen.

Did you know...

Soyuncu is a very close friend of Roma starlet Cengiz Under. The pair were room-mates when playing for Bucaspor and Altinordu, and the latter proved to be an outstanding academy as far as nurturing youngsters is concerned. If you’re a sporting director looking for promising talents, don't hesitate to visit Altinordu games.

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Arsenal - Emile Smith Rowe

Arsenal’s Europa League campaign this season has provided the perfect breeding ground for Arsene Wenger to blood the next crop of young talent at the Emirates Stadium. Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson, Matt Macey and Ben Sheaf have all stepped up for the Gunners, who appear set for another run in the competition next year unless they can go all the way and lift the trophy this time out.
 
Smith Rowe should follow in those youthful footsteps. The Under-17 World Cup winner with England is sure to appeal to whoever the new Arsenal manager is, combining silky-smooth dribbling ability, incisive passing and devastating long-range finishing to draw comparisons with Kevin De Bruyne.

A mid-season injury temporarily halted his progress, but he returned to full fitness in time for Arsenal’s FA Youth Cup final defeat to Chelsea.

Bournemouth - Aaron Ramsdale

Sheffield United’s academy has quietly been one of the most prosperous in England over the past decade: Kyle Walker, Harry Maguire and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have headlined the Blades’ fine work at youth level. Goalkeeper Ramsdale is part of the next wave, and Bournemouth were quick to spot his potential during the 2017 January transfer window by securing an £800,000 transfer for the England U19 international.
 
He started all five matches in the Three Lions’ European Championship triumph in Georgia last summer, before spending time on loan at Chesterfield in January of this year. While the Spireites were relegated last week, his mature performances in the face of adversity have won him many admirers.

Asmir Begovic is entrenched as the Cherries’ No.1 for the time being, but Adam Federici and Artur Boruc are increasingly long in the tooth – leaving Ramsdale with the opportunity to assert his credentials as their goalkeeper of the future.

Brighton - Jordan Maguire-Drew

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, who hails from nearby Worthing, seems to have been close to breaking through at Brighton for a long while now, and has already garnered more experience than many of his contemporaries.

Maguire-Drew was a precocious talent playing ahead of his age group in the Seagulls’ academy, and a short loan spell with his hometown club was followed by a year with Dagenham & Redbridge in 2016/17. This season he's split his time between Lincoln City and Coventry in League Two.
 
It hasn’t all been plain sailing, but he offers plenty of visual similarities to another recent graduate of Brighton’s youth setup in Solly March.

Maguire-Drew is a dynamic attacking presence with a wand of a left foot, and fits perfectly within Chris Hughton’s attacking setup which places a premium on wide players who can cut inside and produce goals. He's made steady progress towards earning a first-team squad place at the Amex Stadium.

Burnley - Marley Blair

It isn’t easy for a young player to break through at Turf Moor – manager Sean Dyche prefers to keep a small first-team squad – but the Clarets’ academy is on the rise and put in a respectable performance across the board after being accepted into Category Two football last summer.

The best work at Barnfield will be seen in the years to come, then, and in 18-year-old forward Marley Blair they could have unearthed a gem who went overlooked at several other clubs en route. 

The tricky attacking midfielder spent time with Bradford and hometown club Huddersfield before joining Liverpool as a 15-year-old. He was unable to make progress on Merseyside, however, so penned a professional contract with Burnley in January and now appears to be on a better path. 

Blair is quick and skilful with an eye for goal, and Liverpool’s loss could well turn out to be Burnley’s gain.

Chelsea - Mason Mount

The 2017/18 season has been something of a watershed moment for Chelsea in terms of academy production – Andreas Christensen has become the first youth team product to establish himself in the first-team squad since John Terry (although Ryan Bertrand deserves a mention in that particular discussion).

The Blues’ relentless run of success in the FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League over recent years has yielded a veritable army of prospective young talent, many of whom have departed on loan, and it’s Mason Mount who has earned rave reviews most often over the past nine months.

The 19-year-old has been highly influential for a Vitesse team that has all too often flattered to deceive, registering nine goals and seven assists in Eredivisie football to be named the Dutch side's player of the season. He set a new Europa League record for chances created in a single match by a teenager (eight) against Lazio, and has made no secret about his desire to play at Stamford Bridge.

With Chelsea set to hire yet another new manager this summer, they could do worse than turn towards a youngster who appears to be heading straight to the top.

Crystal Palace - James Daly

Aaron Wan-Bissaka's emergence from the Eagles academy has provided renewed hope that Crystal Palace can again lean on what was once a steady supply of star players from their youth system.

Their U23 and U18 teams are both involved in end-of-season play-offs for national titles at Category Two level, home-grown star Wilfried Zaha has been the talismanic force behind their unlikely bid for survival under Roy Hodgson, and in James Daly they now have a promising goalscorer who could be the answer to their centre-forward problems.

He's also capable of playing anywhere on the left side of the pitch, and the versatile and hard-working youngster was installed as U18 captain by manager Paddy McCarthy last summer. Daly led by example, too, with five goals in 16 appearances before graduating to Richard Shaw’s U23s.

With nine more goals to his name since, the striker earned a place on the bench for Palace’s trip to Bournemouth earlier this month, and could make a most deserved debut before the end of May.

Everton - Antonee Robinson

Everton have successfully blooded Jonjoe Kenny at right-back this season and, with the evergreen Leighton Baines starting to slow a little, they could be set to do the same on the other side of the pitch next season with Robinson.

A Premier League 2 champion with Everton in 2016/17, the athletic full-back has gone on to gain senior experience on loan at Bolton this season, where he has shown promise with a series of hard-working performances up and down the left flank in trying circumstances. 

Robinson is eligible to represent England or the Republic of Ireland, but received his first international call-up by the United States last month. He recently revealed his plans to return to Goodison Park this summer to challenge for a place in the first-team squad.

Huddersfield - Ryan Schofield

Huddersfield announced the complete restructuring of their academy back in September, opting to follow Brentford by closing down all of their junior age groups and move forward with just an U17 team and U19 development squad.

In signing off on the changes, chairman Dean Hoyle hoped to “provide a strong and obvious pathway to the first team for players who are good enough, while also representing value for the club”. As such, the venture will be very much worth watching over the coming years.

In Ryan Schofield, the Terriers have an England youth international goalkeeper who was promoted to David Wagner’s first-team squad last summer after a successful loan spell with FC United of Manchester, and spent a short period with Telford at the start of 2018.

He’s blessed with size and personality, and since Jonas Lössl has been less-than-convincing in his season-long loan from Mainz, Huddersfield face some interesting decisions in goal for next season.

Leicester - Sam Hughes

The Foxes put up a strong challenge for the Premier League 2 title this season, and also impressed in the Checkatrade Trophy as one of just two U21 teams to reach the third round. As such, several of Steve Beaglehole’s squad are now pushing for more regular inclusion in Claude Puel’s senior team.

Hamza Choudhury and Harvey Barnes have been given opportunities to show what they’re capable of in recent weeks and, in Sam Hughes, the East Midlanders have another former non-league star who is seeking to emulate the rise of Jamie Vardy.
 
Equally at home in central defence or midfield, Hughes made 64 appearances for Chester before joining Leicester last summer for a bargain £130,000, and has made it his business to put himself on the fast track to the first team at the King Power Stadium ever since. He plays with an aggressive edge that served him well in the lower reaches of English football, was quickly installed as Beaglehole’s captain, and managed to finish the season with a double-figures return as the young Foxes' leading goalscorer.

Liverpool - Curtis Jones

Life is very good for Liverpool supporters right now. Jurgen Klopp’s swashbuckling team is on the verge of featuring in the Champions League final, playing some of the most exciting football in the world, and they have plenty of young talents pushing for involvement too. Following hot in the footsteps of Ben Woodburn and Rhian Brewster is 17-year-old local boy Curtis Jones, who quickly proved too good for U18 football in his first season as a scholar. In fact, he's already made the first-team bench at Anfield.
 
A well-built attacking midfielder with an eye for goal, Jones's dribbling and powerful shooting quickly set him apart in Steven Gerrard’s youth team in the first half of the season, where he scored 13 goals in 21 appearances despite only turning 17 in January.

An early promotion to the U23s was followed by involvement in the recent Merseyside derby against Everton as an unused substitute. A league debut can’t be far away with the Reds all-in on their European odyssey for the rest of this season.

Manchester City - Taylor Richards

There’s plenty of life in the Manchester City academy beyond Jadon Sancho, Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz. Sancho’s departure for Germany is beginning to pay off after a starring role for Borussia Dortmund against Bayer Leverkusen recently, while Foden and Diaz have earned the trust of Pep Guardiola in his exhilarating title-winning squad.

And there’s more to come. If not for injury, Taylor Richards could easily have made a case for a place in Guardiola’s plans. A former Fulham youngster who moved north as a 14-year-old, the lithe left-footer has experience in all positions but really began to excel as an attacking midfielder in 2017. He earned rave reviews for Simon Davies’s EDS squad before having his campaign cruelly cut short with a torn cruciate ligament in December.

Richards has everything required to be next off the line at the City Football Academy, and is seeking a return to full fitness for the start of next season.

Manchester United - Ethan Hamilton

When Paul Pogba was ruled out of Manchester United’s FA Cup tie against Huddersfield in February, 19-year-old Ethan Hamilton was the midfielder chosen to replace the club’s record signing in the matchday squad. It was just reward for a player who has come on brilliantly over the past 12 months, and who has now developed into a legitimate box-to-box midfielder with a goalscoring touch.
 
Similar in style to Scott McTominay, who has managed to establish himself as a regular option for Jose Mourinho, the unheralded Scot has had an unusual route to the top. He rejected advances from multiple Scottish clubs to remain with amateur side Hutchison Vale until United came calling in 2014 – emulating Darren Fletcher in doing so – and went on to develop a close relationship with the long-serving midfielder as he settled in at his new club.

A near ever-present for Nicky Butt’s U23s this season, Hamilton's penchant for spectacular goals from his powerful left foot have caught attention, but his work ethic and tactical awareness will serve him best as he climbs the ranks at Old Trafford.

Newcastle - Victor Fernandez

For as long as Mike Ashley keeps the purse strings tightened at St. James’ Park, Rafa Benitez will have to work creatively to keep his squad competitive enough for Premier League football. The Magpies will need to find a new winger if they're unable to strike a permanent deal with Chelsea for Kenedy, but have a Spanish youngster looking to make a name for himself on Tyneside in the soon-to-be 20-year-old Victor Fernandez.

Signed from Cornella in January 2017, Fernandez has spent his first season-and-a-half acclimatising to the English game with Newcastle’s U23 team, buttressing his natural inclination to dribble and beat a man with the physical and mental development required to take his next steps. Benitez took him on a recent training camp to Spain and will take another long look in pre-season at a player who could provide depth across the forward line.

Southampton - Alfie Jones

Southampton’s five-year stay in the Premier League is under serious threat of coming to an end, and whether they’re playing in the top flight or Championship next season, there are decisions to be made at the heart of their defence. Wesley Hoedt, Jack Stephens and Maya Yoshida have all struggled at times, and newcomer Jan Bednarek needs more time to show what he can do. But the club’s prolific Staplewood academy could come up trumps for them again in the form of 20-year-old Alfie Jones.
 
The U23 captain has been a leader throughout his development on the south coast, and has continually impressed with his composure and decision-making at the heart of the Saints’ defence. Under the tutelage of former Premier League defender Radhi Jaidi, he’s primed and ready to take on the challenge of stepping up to men’s football.

Stoke - Jordan Greenidge

Only three teams have scored fewer Premier League goals than Stoke this season, and the Potters are staring relegation in the face. Manager Paul Lambert has blooded Tyrese Campbell since taking over from Mark Hughes back in January, and in Jordan Greenidge has another big, athletic centre-forward who knows where the back of the net is.

Greenidge joined Stoke after being rejected by Reading as a 16-year-old, and has since scored 25 goals in 46 U18 matches, plus twice in little more than 200 minutes at U23 level under Wade Elliott. He's still on the raw side but his sheer athleticism can be harnessed by a willing manager, and players of his stature are always a problem to defend at any level.

Swansea - George Byers

A one-time Watford academy prospect who made his debut for the club in 2015 under then-manager Slavisa Jokanovic, Byers was released from the club a year later and picked up by a Swansea side looking to revamp their U23 team.

That longer road has apparently suited the cultured young midfielder, who helped Swansea to the Premier League Cup and Premier League 2 promotion at U23 level in 2016/17, scoring eight goals in all competitions.

Ten more goals this season helped Cameron Toshack’s side to a highly respectable top-four finish, along with a place in the Premier League Cup Final. Carlos Carvalhal will have to take notice of the Ilford-born youngster’s talents sooner rather than later.

Tottenham - Keanan Bennetts

Plenty of young wingers end up settling down at full-back; they find more space to operate in when starting from a deeper position, and can often use their athleticism to greater effect when bombing up and down the flank. Tottenham found great success shaping Danny Rose into a polished left-back for club and country, and in Keanan Bennetts they have another dynamic and versatile gem on their hands.
 
The 19-year-old has represented England since the age of 15 – also cropping up on the radars of both Germany and Nigeria – and those inside Spurs have always held a quiet confidence that the left-footed youngster would develop into a player capable of making the grade at first-team level.

Afforded time and patience to refine his game, he’s rewarded his coaches with a starring role this season, scoring nine goals in 31 appearances across all competitions – many of them spectacular efforts from his explosive left foot.

Watford - Ryan Cassidy

St Kevin’s Boys are one of the most storied clubs in Ireland; the Dublin-based outfit has seen the likes of Liam Brady, Damien Duff, Ian Harte, Stephen Carr, Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick pass through its doors over the years. They continue to send the next generation of Irish hopefuls across the water to play in England, and one young hotshot in particular has wasted no time in making a name for himself at Watford.
 
Ryan Cassidy kicked off the 2017/18 season with a hat-trick for the Hornets’ U18s away to Burnley, and had netted 16 goals by early new year – at which point he was promoted to Hayden Mullins’s U23 side. He celebrated his first start at that level with another treble in a crazy 5-5 draw away to Bristol City, and capped a fine first season away from home by penning his first professional contract at Vicarage Road in March.

West Brom - Rayhaan Tulloch

As West Brom prepare for life in the second tier, Baggies fans will be keen to see greater attention paid to their flourishing academy – one that remains among the most productive in the country and continues to provide England with a steady supply of capable young footballers.
 
Rayhaan Tulloch is one of those; he was named on the first-team bench by Alan Pardew back in December while still only 16, and has split his time between U18 and Premier League 2 football this season in preparation for a crack at the first team. He's set to be a part of England’s European U17 Championship squad and will go into the tournament in terrific form, having scored five goals in his last four U18 outings – including a hat-trick against Blackburn a week ago.

West Ham - Ben Johnson

Another winger-turned-defender, local lad Johnson has spent much of the second half of the season with David Moyes’s first-team squad at West Ham, after being named in his first Premier League matchday squad at Manchester City in December. Having struggled with injuries for much of his time as a scholar, Johnson's conversion to full-back worked perfectly for the 18-year-old, who is growing in stature both literally and physically as he presses his claim for top-flight playing time.
 
The Hammers will be looking to find a long-term successor to Pablo Zabaleta at right-back this summer, and with Sam Byram having encountered injury issues, there is ample opportunity for Johnson to make people sit up and take notice.

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The 60-second story

Manchester United and Tottenham have reportedly been tracking Bordeaux star Malcom for some time and it’s easy to see why. Over the past 12 months the young Brazilian star – Malcom will turn 21 in February – has developed into one of the most exciting talents in Ligue 1, a division known for producing a steady supply of top-class prospects for Premier League clubs.

This season Malcom’s stats have stood out even though Bordeaux have been struggling near the foot of the division: he’s scored seven goals and provided four assists during the first half of the season even though Bordeaux have failed to live up to their billing as potential top-six contenders.

It’s hardly surprising that a player that has an outside chance of claiming a spot in Brazil’s squad for the World Cup next summer is arguably the most sought-after player in France as the transfer window opens.

Why you need to know him

Bordeaux have a long and successful history of snapping up Brazilian talent, so Malcom was the latest in a line of players when he made the switch from Corinthians to the Gironde region in south-west France in January 2016. Although only 18, he had already made more than 70 first-team appearances for Corinthians and was marked out as a special talent with the potential to one day shine in a top European league.

Willy Sagnol was Bordeaux manager at the time and it was little surprise Malcom – who cost £3.8m, a fee that should turn out to be an absolute bargain – was used sparingly during his first six months at the club as he settled in. During the second half of the 2015-16 season, he made 12 appearances but that was enough to show glimpses of his talent.

It was last season that he truly became a key player for Bordeaux and began to display the ability that suggested he could go on to be a top-class performer for a bigger club abroad. Bordeaux finished sixth in the Ligue 1 standings and Malcom was one of their best players. From his right-wing position, he contributed seven goals and four assists, improving with the team during the second half of the season and producing some moments of outstanding individual skill.

As a result of how he performed in 2016-17, he went into the current campaign as a player to watch, and has been even better. Most Ligue 1 followers are aware he’s been one of the most exciting and effective attacking players in the division this season, making it increasingly unlikely that Bordeaux will be able to hang on to him because of the attention he’s attracted.

Strengths

Malcom has outstanding dribbling skills and in that sense is a classic winger with the ability to beat his man in a number of ways. His trickery and invention in the final third make him difficult to stop as he can improvise and mix up his game, making him unpredictable in one-on-one situations and when faced with a wall of defenders.

He also has excellent long-range shooting ability, as he’s shown by scoring from outside the area on more than one occasion this season. That’s why a right-wing position has suited him: from such a starting point, he can cut in on his stronger left foot and hit the target from long range, as he did spectacularly in Ligue 1 matches against Saint-Etienne and Dijon.

The variety Malcom has in the final third was also illustrated when he went outside to score with his right foot against Nantes last October. On that occasion the defenders were expecting him to come inside, but he trusted himself on his weaker side and made the right decision as he found the net. Against Toulouse, he scored from the edge of the penalty area, showing he can be deadly if you give him time and space in central positions.

Malcom has operated almost exclusively as a winger at Bordeaux but some believe he will eventually develop into a No.10 playing behind one or two strikers. He has an eye for playing the right penultimate or final pass, and will become a lot more effective in this respect when he operates alongside better team-mates.

Weaknesses

Malcom is not exactly excused from defensive duties at Bordeaux but it’s fair to say the defensive side of his game would need to improve if he were to move to the Premier League. His recovery runs can lack intensity and conviction. As a result, Bordeaux have sometimes been exposed on the right flank as he doesn’t always give right-back Youssouf Sabaly the necessary protection.

This is a frequent issue that attacking players moving from Ligue 1 to the Premier League have to deal with, however, so this would not be a stumbling block to a move. Dimitri Payet during his time at West Ham, for example, made light of his reputation as a defensively erratic player whose workrate was frequently questioned by adapting impressively to the demands of the Premier League.

Others, such as Sofiane Boufal at Southampton and Anthony Martial, have had problems, so it would essentially be down to Malcom and his own desire and ability to develop his game.

What they said

“Like all the top players in our league, Malcom is a bit different. He’s doesn’t play in the same position but he’s a bit like Seri at Nice, Fekir at Lyon or Lemar at Monaco: he’s one of those players that can make the difference for your team with his brilliant left foot.”

Bordeaux manager Jocelyn Gourvennec, Sept 2017  

Did you know...

Malcom has represented Brazil at U20 and U23 level but has yet to play for the senior national team – although Selecao manager Tite has admitted he’s followed the youngster’s progress at Bordeaux over the past 12 months.

What happens next

Bordeaux went into the winter break just one point above the relegation zone and would be in danger of going down – which would be a disaster for an ambitious and well-established club – if they sold their most talented performer.

Bordeaux president Stephane Martin has insisted the player is going nowhere, but Les Girondins would struggle to turn down a bid of €40m or more given that they operate with a smaller budget than Ligue 1 rivals PSG, Monaco, Lyon, Marseille and Lille.

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Leon Goretzka (Germany)

Goretzka shone brightly at the Confederations Cup, scoring three goals and bossing the midfield en route to Germany's win in the tournament. Remarkably, the Schalke midfielder will finish as the top scorer for his national team in 2017, having notched three goals in the World Cup qualifiers – including an absolutely majestic backheel effort against Azerbaijan.

Joachim Low is a big fans of Goretka's all-round abilities; the 22-year-old is magnificently effective in his tackling and distribution, and there's a decent chance that he'll be a starter for the world champions in Russia on his way to superstardom.

Goncalo Guedes (Portugal)

The 21-year-old winger is less covered than the likes of Ousmane Dembele or Christian Pulisic, but make no mistake – Guedes is one of the greatest talents of his generation and has a potential to become one of the best in the world. The Portuguese starlet is technically sublime, lightning fast, blessed with incredible vision and extremely unselfish, and big things are expected in coming years.

His decision to move from Benfica to PSG last January might not have been good for his development, but Guedes is flourishing this season on loan at Valencia. The youngster tries to escape comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo, but he can be the Real Madrid man's ultimate heir – and may even be ready to take charge in Russia.

Karol Linetty (Poland)

Poland could be the dark horses of this tournament, with a superstar striker (Robert Lewandowski) ably supported by a balanced and talented squad that packs both experienced and young performers.

Quite a few Poles can make a big name for themselves in Russia, and Linetty is definitely one of them. He's compared to Andres Iniesta in his home country, and has made remarkable progress under Sampdoria coach Marco Giampaolo since moving to Serie A from Lech Poznan in 2016.

Linetty is an elegant distributor who contributes defensively as well, and has become an important player for Poland coach Adam Nawalka over the last year.

Denis Zakaria (Switzerland)

Arsenal's Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka established himself at Borussia Monchengladbach, and now his compatriot Zakaria is following the same path. The 21-year-old has been a revelation in the Bundesliga since his €12 million transfer from Young Boys in the summer, and even earned plaudits from Lothar Matthaus.

Zakaria combines sheer physical strength with vision and dedication, and it looks like he could start in Russia alongside Xhaka after his positive displays in the play-off matches against Northern Ireland. He could end up even higher rated than his more experienced partner.

Hirving Lozano (Mexico)

PSV Eindhoven fans have never witnessed a better start by a newcomer. Romario, Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy don't even come close to the 10 goals scored by 22-year-old Mexican Lozano in his first 11 Eredivisie matches – and he isn't even a pure striker.

The winger, who arrived in the Netherlands from Pachuca, is quickly making a huge name for himself in the national team as well. He scored the crucial goal against Russia at the Confederations Cup, netted four times in the World Cup qualifiers, and his class and self-confidence should be very important as he tries to emulate idol Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rodrigo Bentancur (Uruguay)

Juventus acquired the rights to sign the 20-year-old Uruguayan from Boca Juniors as part of the Carlos Tevez deal back in 2015. Now that the midfielder has joined the Italian giants, the deal looks like a steal.

Two-footed, versatile, mobile and a very good passer, Bentancur looks like a star in the making. His arrival was very low profile, but his impact is going to be immense and national team coach Oscar Tabarez is counting on the youngster ahead of the World Cup. The schemer started playing for La Celeste towards the end of Uruguay's qualifying campaign and could become a starter come summer.

Pione Sisto (Denmark)

The 22-year-old Danish winger will be the first player of Sudanese origins to play at the World Cup. Lightning quick and confident, he is capable of taking defences apart and has been gaining valuable experience at Celta Vigo since moving to La Liga from Midtjylland in summer 2016.

Sisto's biggest dream is to play for Barcelona, and he did such aspirations no harm when scoring and starring in Celta's 4-3 win over the Catalans last season. He is much more consistent this term, though, and a good show in Russia could pave his way to a top club.

Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Iran)

Under Carlos Queiroz, Iran are built around solid defence first and foremost – but they have two potentially explosive weapons up front as well. Sardar Azmoun was their free-scoring star in qualifying and should be massively important in Russia, but he is currently benched at Rostov, while his partner is flourishing in Holland.

Jahanbakhsh scored 11 goals for AZ Alkmaar in 2016/17, and added four more at the beginning of the current season. However, his all-round contribution is much more significant and the versatile 24-year-old can play anywhere across the frontline. He was barely noticed during three short substitute appearances at Brazil 2014, but should catch a lot of attention next summer.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Serbia)

One of the biggest mysteries in Serbia during qualification was the decision of coach Slaboljub Muslin to ignore the 22-year-old central midfielder who was widely considered among the best in his position in Serie A. With Muslin controversially relieved of his duties since, Lazio man Milinkovic-Savic duly got a call-up and should play a crucial role for his country in Russia.

Strong, tall and physically imposing, he is also immensely talented technically, blessed with supreme vision and a deft touch of the ball. Milinkovic-Savic is experienced beyond his years and already attracting interest from top clubs, and his market value could reach dizzy heights if he can fulfil his potential in the summer.

Amine Harit (Morocco)

As Schalke staged their incredible comeback to reverse a 4-0 half-time deficit at fierce local rivals Borussia Dortmund, Harit was definitely the star of the show. He came on when the situation looked hopeless, and the 20-year-old winger's boundless energy and trickery helped the Royal Blues save the game.

Nantes supporters already knew how good their beloved star was: he took Ligue 1 by storm last season before departing for the Bundesliga. Harit is a magnificent talent, and the Moroccan FA must be delighted that they managed to convince the Frenchman to switch his allegiance to the Atlas Lions this year. It makes sense for the youngster, though, who wouldn't have been able to go to Russia with France but could prove to be one of Morocco's brightest stars. 

See also...

EXPLAINER When and what time is the 2018 World Cup draw?

GUIDE EVERYTHING you need to know about each team in Russia

GALLERY 50 years of nonsensical World Cup draws in pictures

QUIZ Can you name all 79 countries to have appeared at a World Cup finals?

More World Cup 2018 on FourFourTwo

On one side of the Passeggiata Archeologica, not far from Naples, are the ruins of Villa San Marco. The villa was likely the country pad of emperor Claudius’s second-in-command, Narcissus. His Berlusconian political scheming finally got him executed, but before that he’d liked his sport – so much so that he had his pillared bathroom decorated with boxers and wrestlers. The villa overlooked the sea before Mount Vesuvius blew, forging a new coastline to the south of Pompeii.

Just across the road, pinched in between the Passeggiata Archeologica and the motorway flyover, is an Astroturf pitch, a clubroom cluttered with trophies and, in a scrap yard, table football. The Lattari Mountains of the Amalfi Coast rise up behind one goal; the volcano looms beyond the other.

It’s October 2015, and five kids at this local soccer school are doing goalkeeper training. The coach is a guest, an old boy: Bologna’s Antonio Mirante is one of three keepers to go from the (misleadingly named) Asd Club Napoli in Castellammare di Stabia, all the way up to Serie A.

These boys were about to gain a new role model. He’s almost within touching distance of their age, if seemingly twice their height. Gianluigi Donnarumma, at just 16 years and eight months, made his debut for Milan against Sassuolo on October 25, 2015, becoming the youngest goalkeeper ever to start a match in Serie A.

He had already sat on the substitutes’ bench against Cesena back in February 2015, three days before his 16th birthday. With goalkeeping coach Alfredo Magni raving about the prodigy, the Rossoneri obtained the medical dispensation that was necessary to confirm that the 6ft 5in hulk was able to compete with adults.

A man at 16

Boss Pippo Inzaghi had considered starting Donnarumma at Atalanta in Milan’s meaningless last game of that season, but baulked despite privately knowing that his own tenure was up. Yet new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic had the balls to write the teenager’s name down on the team-sheet – and he did it under the gaze of the vultures, after the side had leaked 14 goals in eight league games to begin 2015/16.

Mihajlovic phoned Milan veteran keeper Christian Abbiati, now on the verge of retirement and warming the bench behind Diego Lopez, to ask if he thought Donnarumma was ready to replace the faltering Spanish keeper. The answer was an emphatic “yes” – to the surprise of no one who had trained Donnarumma.

“Are you kidding?” says Bruno Tedino, his Italy Under-17 coach, when FourFourTwo asks if the debut was unexpected. “Absolutely not! Even at 16 years old he looked like a 30-year-old man. He had all the attributes to become a champion. He showed he had his head screwed on. I congratulate all those who took a chance on him.”

Donnarumma was a little more wide-eyed. Mihajlovic told him the news in the Milanello dressing room the day before the game.

“It was an incredible emotion,” he said. “I hadn't thought he would play me. I’m normally one to keep my emotions in, but that day it was difficult. After training I called up my parents straightaway and they left Castellammare to come over and see me. It was a strange sensation in the coach on the way to the stadium. Then I ran out, touched the crossbar and we were off.”

NEXT: He still hasn't got over buying himself on FIFA...

Cool and composed

Donnarumma’s maiden Serie A outing was acceptable rather than dazzling. He was beaten at his near post by a well-hit Domenico Berardi free-kick, although Milan still won 2-1. The onlooking Lopez said after: “I’m relaxed because I have faith in my work. You can be sure I will be back to do my talking on the pitch.”

And he was – on loan at Espanyol, before joining them permanently in the summer. 

Donnarumma kept a first clean sheet three days later as the Rossoneri edged out Chievo. He leaked one as Milan put three past Lazio, then excelled in a goalless draw against Atalanta. By the end of the campaign he had become what La Gazzetta dello Sport called “the only reason to smile in that torturous season”.

The San Siro showered him with applause, providing welcome breaks from the din of whistling as Milan failed to qualify for Europe and lost the Coppa Italia final.

Donnarumma cried after the loss to Juventus in Rome – something he does easily. When Abbiati – whom Gianluigi considers a second father according to Alfonso, his real one – finally bade farewell to the San Siro, raising his arms up to the crowd alongside Donnarumma in a baton-passing gesture, the youngster wept. He also cried after his Serie A debut, when he saw that the ball boy behind his goal was an academy team-mate; they’d played together only two weeks before.

This is one version of Donnarumma: a man (well, just about) who is open with his emotions, “at peace with himself” as one former coach puts it. The other Donnarumma is so calm and self-assured that one Italian paper likened him to a Swede.

“Every player who gets called up is nervous,” says Tedino, remembering when the glovesman first joined his squad for the U17 European qualifiers back in 2014, “but Donnarumma registered 40 heartbeats per minute – he was cool and rational. His concentration has always been his foundation.”

Less than three weeks after making his Milan bow, the teenager said: “I let it all slide over me, that’s just the way I am. Calmness is my strength, including during the difficult moments of a match. A keeper has to transmit a sense of security to the team. Mentally I am more advanced. I noticed it when I made my Milan debut, as I should have been very nervous, but wasn’t.

“I talk to my defenders continuously; I don’t worry about the age gap. After all, having faith in your goalkeeper is a necessity – he has a different view of the match and he can give out useful directions.”

Down to earth

This is a teenager who on one hand has declared his ambitions to become a Milan icon, wear the captain’s armband and take over from Gianluigi Buffon for Italy, but on the other still collects Panini stickers, says press talk about his value makes him feel like a fantasy football player, and hasn’t got over the fun of buying himself on FIFA.

Filippo Galli, youth team coach with Milan, has never seen him brood.

“One of his strengths is how he always manages to calmly forget his errors,” he tells FFT. “Since he was a kid, he’s always made a fresh start after a mistake. At his age, and playing the position he does, a mistake can occasionally bother you, but the personality he has got always helps him out.”

Or perhaps ‘forget’ isn’t quite the right word: the memory of that bungled free-kick during his debut has not been expunged. When La Gazzetta interviewed Donnarumma in July as he prepared to start his first season as Milan’s first-choice shot-stopper, he singled out that error as one he never wanted to repeat.

The only things which faze Donnarumma are his school work – he has studied accountancy – and Bayern Munich custodian Manuel Neuer, whose shirt he said he would be too shy to ask for. A social animal, by his own admission, he happily plunges into the autograph-hunting throngs when he goes back home to Castellammare. The diploma is important to his parents – and family is important to Donnarumma.

“His family is close to him, they’re always there for him,” says Galli. “He has always been well brought up and is respectful, which hasn’t changed as he’s become famous – he is still very friendly and kind.”

Donnarumma goes to mass regularly and he still wears the rosary beads his grandmother gave him. “Gianluigi’s biggest strength is his enormous humility, his willingness to sacrifice,” explains Tedino. “He is always very friendly with everybody and he deserves to get to the very top professionally, but also as a person. Even though he is still so young, he has always had this amazing attitude towards all of his team-mates and coaches. That’s something that you can’t teach – it comes from being raised in a decent family.”

Studying accountancy... and Neuer

If you lack the fabled experience of the mature keeper, then a good grounding – plus a reptilian temperament – are more than a reasonable substitute. It also helps to be a cross between circus strongman and acrobat. Milan’s youth goalkeeping coach Davide Pinato revealed that, when the 14-year-old Donnarumma first arrived at the club, “he was a bit overweight but despite that, what was really impressive was his ability to learn motor skills in a short time frame.

“He has innate talent, he’s quick-thinking – and that’s the basis of everything. He has always been precise and clean in his movements, which is really surprising in someone so young. And then he does all that with strength, technique and a level of coordination which is out of the ordinary. I compare him to an NBA player. They are all tall, but fast, strong and intense in spite of their bulk.”

A video clip of Donnarumma displaying “Martian-like” reflexes as he faces close-range shots in training helps to explain his excellent record at saving penalties: opposition players missed four of the nine spot-kicks against him 2016/17. Intensive studying of Serie A’s penalty takers has improved his armoury, informing saves like one from Adem Ljajic at Torino, when he parried the shot in front of his chest. 

His height and confidence make him as commanding on high balls as you’d expect, leaving just one piece of homework. The predestinato – as the Italian press love to anoint him – is prompt to identify his ball skills as needing work, and so studies Neuer accordingly. Donnarumma’s displays at youth level suggest this might just be a skill gone AWOL, though.

“Since his first day at Milan, he has always had the ball at his feet,” reveals Galli. “We’ll focus a lot on this aspect. We want our keepers to get involved in building play. That’s always been one of his characteristics.”

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Love for Milan

How has Donnarumma come so far so fast? Preternatural physical development is one answer. Club Napoli president Ciro Amore tells FFT. 

“Donnarumma did always play up an age group,” he says. “He was born in 1999, but we always played him with the kids born in ’97. To avoid trouble, we’d write the ‘99’ sloppily, without closing up the second 9, so it looked like a 7.”

Donnarumma’s mother Maria famously kept his birth certificate in her bag, as people found a 6ft 2in 11-year-old hard to believe.

More importantly, Gigio – as he’s been universally known since middle school – has had no other desire than to be a goalkeeper since the age of four. “His uncle, Enrico Alfano, was the one who pushed him to play football,” says Amore.

Maria’s brother had played locally as a keeper and, finding himself out of work, came in to help Ernesto Ferraro coach Club Napoli’s stoppers.

“Enrico had known Ferraro for a long time, because they used to play together. Enrico brought Gigio, plus [his brother] Antonio, and the funny thing was that their father wasn’t a great football fan. So when Enrico passed away, Ernesto took his place. He is an amazing coach, just like a broody hen. Ferraro would be the one who went to collect him from his home, because Donnarumma’s father was always working... and then he would take him back in the evening.”

Around a decade ago, Ferraro gave an interview about Gennaro Iezzo and Mirante, the first two of his Club Napoli apprentices to keep goal in the Italian top flight. He told the reporter that he was also coaching an eight-year-old who’d go on to play for Italy.

By then Gigio’s older brother Antonio, nine years his senior, had gone to Milan. The Rossoneri later made €1.8 million selling him on to Genoa but, more importantly, they had earned the fanatical love of his little brother. Gigio wore the rossonero shirt to school, stuck the crest on his schoolbook and had a Kaka clock on his bedroom wall.

In 2013, Inter appeared to have beaten off the competition to all but secure Gigio’s signing, when Milan belatedly expressed an interest. Gigio swapped blue stripes for red without a second thought.

Jewel in Milan's crown

Antonio, who's now back at Milan after re-signing from Asteras Tripolis in Greece this summer, has always been proud to admit his brother was better (not to mention just a little bit taller) – though his goalkeeping coach at Bari has claimed Antonio raised his game after Gigio’s success at the San Siro. While the older Donnarumma was in Greece the two brothers would keep in touch every day, waging online PlayStation encounters in the evenings and baiting each other over goals conceded.

In November, Antonio said that “knowing Gigio, he would not leave Milan for anything in the world. He’s truly happy in rossonero and he’s always been a Milanista.”

Gigio definitely isn’t shy of commitment: he is already engaged to the ironically named Alessia Elefante, a Pompeii local whose head barely reaches his chest.

But Gigio’s flamboyant super-agent, Mino Raiola, is less of a sporting monogamist. “Donnarumma? I compare him to a Modigliani,” he said shortly after the youngster’s Milan debut. “He’s worth €170m.” 

Last season season he was muttering that “jewels should stay in the windows of high-end shops.” When some fans began criticising Donnarumma in January, notably after Milan’s 2-1 defeat at Udinese, Raiola declared, “If they want him to leave, they should tell me...”

Silvio Berlusconi’s sale of the San Siro giants to Chinese company Sino-Europe Sports in March provided a good reason – or excuse – to delay talks on Donnarumma’s first five-year contract, even though the goalkeeper became eligible upon turning 18 at the end of February 2017. It almost ended catastrophically: in mid-July it was announced that Milan's jewel wouldn't be renewing his deal, but he eventually inked a contract to 2021 in August amid fan backlash.   

The new Gigi

Donnarumma was handed his Italy debut in September 2016, coming on as a half-time substitute in a 3-1 home loss to France in Bari. The great Buffon was the man he replaced that night – as if the ‘new Buffon’ clamour couldn’t possibly get any louder.

“I think it’s a good comparison,” explains Tedino. “Buffon never shirks responsibility. He’s honest and humble – he really understands what it means to be part of a team. From a moral point of view, he’s similar to Buffon, though technically they’re different.”

Buffon, Donnarumma’s idol, made his Italy debut in October 1997 – 16 months before his replacement had even been born. Amid the flood of compliments he paid the teenager soon after his Serie A bow, one piece of advice now seems pertinent: “Try to mature as fast as possible, so you can understand which are the true things and which the false in this environment.”

Nothing could have said more about how Milan have fallen than when Donnarumma once suggested that the Rossoneri could take inspiration from Leicester. When his shootout save in December 2016 earned Milan the Supercoppa Italiana, it was the club’s first trophy in five years. Yet past cycles of Milan success have been founded around a kernel of young, homegrown players like the one that is currently struggling to assert itself.

When Milan returned after the winter break last season, Donnarumma’s was the club’s best-selling jersey, with their stock virtually sold out. When a goalkeeper’s shirt is this highly prized, it is either the sign of an average team or the mark of a truly great keeper. 

Additional reporting: Alberto Santi

This is an edited version of the feature that originally appeared in the April 2017 issue of FourFourTwo. Subscribe!

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When Gianluigi Donnarumma was thrown into Milan's starting XI as a 16-year-old back in October 2015, not a lot was going right at Milan. Quite the opposite, in fact.

The struggling Rossoneri were 12th after eight games of the season under new manager Sinisa Mihajlovic, who didn't hesitate to drop his experienced goalkeeper – the former Real Madrid net-minder Diego Lopez – and replace him with Donnarruma for their next match. Not with seasoned pro Christian Abbiati, but a 6ft 5in teenager who'd made his first appearance in a Milan squad as a 15-year-old. (It was Abbiati, in fact, who recommended that Donnarumma play.) 

It says a lot that the goalkeeper he replaced for that Sassuolo game, Lopez, later hailed him as “the future of Milan and of Italian football”.

And yet somehow, just over two years later, even that statement doesn’t seem to justify his talent.

Simply, Donnarumma has been sensational. He has kept 27 clean sheets in 80 Serie A matches – a remarkable tally given Milan’s woeful performances over the past few seasons.

His save from Paulo Dybala in the 2016 Supercoppa Italiana penalty shootout secured his club’s first trophy in five years – the kind of moment which has made him so integral to any chances of future Milan success. The Rossoneri were rocked in the summer when it was initially revealed that Donnarumma wouldn't be renewing his contract at San Siro – so imagine their relief when he penned a new four-year deal just over a month later. 

The giant 18-year-old commands his area brilliantly, and has no problem berating his more experienced international team-mates if he has to. Donnarumma’s displays have been a joy to behold, and he already looks like an accomplished keeper. The Italian makes few of the errors that normally blight those of a similar age, and on the rare occasion his footwork gets him into trouble, his athleticism and gangly frame help him to recover.

Donnarumma has long been touted as the heir to Gigi Buffon, who will retire next summer – and he is precisely the reason why few Italians are fearing the departure of their legendary shot-stopper. 

“If it weren't for Buffon ahead of him, he probably would have already been No.1 choice in the first team,” Azzurri boss Giampiero Ventura said recently. “He has an extraordinarily important future.”

All hail the best teenager in the world.

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Around this time last year, few people had even heard of Kylian Mbappe – but nowadays the 18-year-old is widely considered one of the biggest stars in the world full stop.

The Frenchman's rise has been sensational, and it’s certainly arguable that he’s better than Thierry Henry was at his age. Lightning speed, amazing ball control and supreme vision make Mbappe unstoppable when he's on song – and that was the case more often than not last term.

Having started the 2016/17 season as a fringe player at Monaco, Mbappe began to soar after scoring one and assisting two more against Montpellier in October.

He netted 15 times in Ligue 1 en route to title glory for Les Monegasques and, even more impressively, netted in five consecutive Champions League knockout matches. Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund were beaten as Monaco reached the semi-finals, while the youngster scored at Juventus as well – ending the Old Lady's run of six consecutive games without conceding in the tournament.

It remains to be seen whether his move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer was wise, but so far the early signs have been promising. Monaco are about to receive an astronomical €180 million for their prodigy, and that price tag will weigh heavy for the teenage Parisian. Originally he intended to stay at Monaco, the club that nurtured him, for one more season at least.

Mbappe's partnership with Neymar and Edinson Cavani has started well, even if his goal ratio is down from last term – somewhat unsurprisingly, though, considering the pedigree of his free-scoring new club-mates. Neymar didn't join PSG to be anything other than the main man, remember.

The 18-year-old has hardly had a consistent role either, having been let loose in all three positions across PSG’s forward line so far.

To cap his stunning ascent, Mbappe is now an important figure for France as well, having started in two World Cup qualifiers and netted his first international goal in August's 4-0 win over Holland.

Come summer, he will be expected to star at Russia’s summer showpiece – and aiming to the better of new pal Neymar.

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What if Anthony Martial had never tweaked his hamstring warming up against FC Midtjylland?

Then again, perhaps Marcus Rashford – a last-minute addition to the line-up that night, who duly scored twice before keeping his place to repeat the trick against Arsenal three days later – was talented enough to ensure his chance would have come sooner or later.

But perhaps not. Rashford, whose 20 months of senior football have been a thrill-a-minute upsurge towards elite-level genius, is a rarity among high-grade youngsters in that he emerged with almost no hype surrounding him. Only a few clued-up souls had the slightest idea who he was: when taking to the field for Manchester United, he didn’t even have a Wikipedia page.

Rather than having been destined for greatness from day one, Rashford seemed to have decided to impose greatness onto himself, squeezing every ounce of potential from each opportunity he’s been afforded. 

Considering that Rashford hadn't kicked a football at senior level until February 2016, it’s faintly staggering that out of he and Martial – a resplendent attacking talent and until recently the planet’s most expensive teenager – it’s the Wythenshawe-born local boy who is rightly considered the most exciting player.

As a player, Rashford boasts all the hallmarks of an exhilarating attacking prospect: a screeching turn of pace; deftness of touch; fearlessness in driving towards goal.

But it’s his understanding of the game’s shapes and patterns that marks him as an exception among the exceptional. Whether it’s the out-to-in, off-the-ball run to get himself played in on goal; the early whipped cross to put one on a plate for a team-mate; or the perfectly timed arrival into a crowded penalty area that secures a straightforward-looking tap-in – Rashford seems to already have access to a whole repertoire of canny tricks that take most players an entire career to acquire.

Greatness awaits – and it won’t be waiting long.

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10. Micah Richards

Hopes were high for Richards back in 2008; months before he was revealed as the 10th highest-rated teenager in Football Manager, Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce told reporters he “would love to see Micah stay, captain the club, maybe be here for 10 years and carry the club on his back if he can”. Not much, then.

The subsequent takeover by mega-rich Abu Dhabians didn’t exactly help Richards’ chances of becoming a decade-long fixture, but nobody would have predicted the extent of his recent decline. A loan switch to Fiorentina in 2014/15 bore little fruit, before a permanent switch to Aston Villa the following season took the right-back down to the Championship, where he’s struggled for game time this term.

It wasn’t all bad at City, though: before being ousted by Pablo Zabaleta he was a regular for six seasons from 2006 onwards, and played an integral role in City’s astonishing 2011/12 title win under Roberto Mancini.  

9. Marcelo

Still only 29, Marcelo has nevertheless spent more than a decade at Real Madrid having joined the Spanish giants from Fluminense in January 2007.

The attack-minded left-back was still finding his feet at the Bernabeu when he was named among Football Manager’s top teens a year later, and many doubted whether he had a long-term future at the club after a poor run of form under Juande Ramos in 2009.

In truth, it feels as though Marcelo has only recently won over his sizeable contingent of doubters. The interpretation of him as defensively poor was always unfair, but in the last few seasons the Brazilian has proved beyond doubt that he’s one of the world’s best players in his position.  

8. Marek Hamsik

Another who’s been with his current employers since 2007, Hamsik is closing in on Diego Maradona’s scoring record for Napoli – at the time of writing, he needs just two more goals to overtake the Argentine’s tally of 115.

Likened to Juventus great Pavel Nedved early in his career, Hamsik has evolved over the years; he tended to be employed as part of a front three during Walter Mazzarri’s time at the Stadio San Paolo between 2009 and 2013, but he’s moved deeper in recent seasons and now plays in Maurizio Sarri’s midfield trio.

Hamsik has still only won trophy at Napoli – the Coppa Italia in 2012 – and will be desperate to help end the club’s 27-year Scudetto drought this term.

7. Zdravko Kuzmanovic

Kuzmanovic has carved out a decent career for himself, playing in the top flights of Italian, Swiss, German and Spanish football – but it’s hard to shake the feeling that he never quite lived up to his early promise.

Named Swiss Golden Player of the Year in 2006, the midfielder left Basel for Fiorentina the following January. His time in Tuscany was a success but by 2009 Kuzmanovic was on the move again, joining Stuttgart for £7m. He’s represented Inter, Basel (again) and Udinese since then, and can currently be found plying his trade on loan at Malaga.

Although he’s not pulled on a Serbia shirt since 2014, Kuzmanovic will hope for an international recall in time for the Russian World Cup next summer.

6. Jonathan de Guzman

De Guzman was thrusted into Feyenoord’s first team shortly after his 18th birthday, and his club had extremely high hopes for him. The Dutchman, who was born in Canada to parents of Filipino and Jamaican descent, played 31 times in his debut campaign of 2005/06. By 2008, he was a permanent fixture in the Rotterdam side’s starting XI.

De Guzman was close to signing for Manchester City in summer 2009, but the proposed deal fell through and he stuck around for a another year before joining Mallorca.

Unfortunately for the midfielder, it’s been a tale of injuries and inconsistency ever since: De Guzman has spent time at Mallorca, Villarreal, Napoli, Swansea, Carpi, Chievo and Eintracht Frankfurt in the last eight seasons, averaging just over 26 league appearances per club.

5. Ismail Aissati

Aissati became the youngest Dutch player to feature in the Champions League in 2005, playing for PSV against Milan aged 17 years and 64 days. Despite his considerable talent, however, PSV sold the attacking midfielder to Ajax in 2008 – but an early knee injury halted his progress in Amsterdam.

Aissati struggled to recover from his bad start and was on the move again in 2012 after just 41 Eredivisie outings for Ajax. First, he spent at season at Turkish outfit Antalyaspor, then stayed at Akhmat Grozny in the Russian Premier League from 2013-16.

He returned to Turkey at the end of his contract, penning a deal with Alanyaspor, and can now be found at second-tier side Balikesirspor.

4. Anderson

Anderson didn’t spend much of his senior career at Gremio – just 31 first-team appearances before joining Porto in 2006 – but he’ll forever be idolised after scoring the goal which earned the Imortal Tricolor promotion back to Série A.

He didn’t last long in Portugal either, stopping off for just a single season with Porto before earning his big move to Manchester United.

The Brazilian certainly had his moments during an eight-year spell at Old Trafford – he contributed to four Premier League titles and their 2008 Champions League triumph – but he never lived up to his billing as a potential superstar.

After an unsuccessful loan stint at Fiorentina in 2014/15, Anderson returned to Brazil with Internacional at the end of the campaign, and is now on loan with Coritiba.

3. Sergio Aguero

By the time of his 20th birthday, Aguero had racked up 23 goals in 56 games for Independiente, played two full seasons at Atletico Madrid (scoring 34 times in 92 outings) and won five caps for Argentina.

He’s only occasionally slowed down since – and only through injury. He ended his Atletico career with 101 goals in 234 games, and won the Europa League in 2010.

Aguero’s been even more prolific at Manchester City since signing for £38m in summer 2011, and became their all-time record scorer after netting for the 178th time in his 264th City appearance against Napoli.

2. Alexandre Pato

Milan didn’t need long to make their mind up about Pato: the teenage striker had played just 10 league games for Internacional before being snapped up for €24m by the Rossoneri in summer 2007.

He made his debut for the Italians the following January and immediately hit the ground running, scoring in a 5-2 defeat of Napoli on his Serie A debut.

Pato reached double figures in his first three full seasons at San Siro and helped Max Allegri’s side win the title in 2010/11 – but injuries began to bite and he was forced to return to Brazil in 2013; first with Corinthians, and subsequently Sao Paulo.

A curious loan spell with Chelsea followed in the second half of 2015/16, before Pato – still only 28 – moved on to Villarreal and current club Tianjin Quanjian.

1. Karim Benzema

Benzema was barely 17 when he pulled on a Lyon shirt for the first time in January 2005. The striker played six times in total as Les Gones claimed their fourth consecutive Ligue 1 crown that season, before becoming a prominent member of their first team the following year.

The 2007/08 campaign was Benzema’s best on an individual level, as he scored 31 goals in all competitions. The Frenchman spent one more year at Lyon before Real Madrid came calling in 2009, paying €35m to bring him to the Bernabeu.

Benzema has had his critics ever since, but his value to Madrid has been undisputable; as well as averaging around a goal every other game in all competitions, he’s been a vital foil for Cristiano Ronaldo and played a major role in helping the club win two La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues over the last eight years.

FourFourTwo's 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017

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America's greatest ever player at just 19? If that’s an overstatement, it’s a minor one.

It may give some impression of the dazzling talent that lies within the young man described in August by the Washington Post as "the player of USA soccer dreams".

Amid the catastrophe that was the USA’s World Cup qualifying failure, Christian Pulisic was their constant cause for hope. In their must-win penultimate game against Panama, the 19-year-old grabbed the game by its lapels, opening the scoring from a tight angle before bamboozling his marker to lay one on a plate for Jozy Altidore.

His team’s final-hurdle failure in Trinidad four days later was not for any lack on Pulisic’s part: he rifled in a 20-yarder but could do little about the concession of two at the other end.

It’s at club level, however, where Pulisic’s pedigree has become undeniable. In the exacting surroundings of Germany’s top flight, the Pennsylvania native has spent the last two years establishing himself as a standout player in Borussia Dortmund’s thrilling high-energy attacking unit.

Although much of his game time has come on the flanks, the accepted wisdom is that Pulisic is destined for a central role. It makes sense: he is adept with both feet and possesses the shape-shifting change of balance that is the signature of the best modern-era No.10s.

While breaking through at Borussia Dortmund under Thomas Tuchel, what impressed his former manager was a tactical understanding and willingness to work without the ball as well as with it. "He's very self-confident,” said the ex-BVB boss. “You can see it in training and the way he plays. He's not nervous, he's very ambitious."

A coolly taken goal in the Champions League last 16 against Benfica and match-turning outing from the bench in the German Cup final were among the highlights of a whirlwind year that took him from youth-team mainstay to first-team centrepiece.

That trajectory has only continued in light of Dortmund's summer transfer activity, and perhaps the highest compliment that can be paid to Pulisic so far is that the departure of Ousmane Dembele has barely been felt. In fact, Dortmund are scoring more than they did last term and, after being bedded in off the bench, Pulisic's place in the starting XI is now more or less guaranteed.

Carrying a nation's hopes on your shoulders in no small task, but Pulisic has coped so far. The only way is up.

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FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017

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As debuts go, a trip to the Juventus Stadium is about as daunting as it gets. When you’re only 17, have a famous surname and are playing for a team whose supporters absolutely loathe the Bianconeri, you could be forgiven for being overawed.

Yet Federico Chiesa – son of ex-Sampdoria and Parma striker Enrico – took it in his stride. He wasn't able to help Fiorentina win, but delivered a performance that completely belied his age.

The starlet continued to impress even as his side stumbled through the 2016/17 campaign, but it was when the new season began that he truly shone. Stefano Pioli replaced the ineffective Paulo Sousa as manager and, after a mass exodus of talent, the Viola's new head honcho handed Chiesa a leading role in his revamped XI.

He had clearly been stymied by Sousa’s insistence on fielding him as a wing-back, because operating in the trident behind a single striker in Pioli’s 4-2-3-1 system is routinely bringing the best out of Chiesa.

Effective on either flank or through the middle, he is energetic, dynamic and skilful, able to burst beyond defenders using his speed and incredible technique.

Chiesa's finishing remains one area in need of improvement, but with a father who netted more than 200 goals, the youngster knows where to go for advice.

"Federico hasn't changed at all despite becoming so popular,” Enrico told La Gazzetta dello Sport recently. “He is still humble and keeps the same friendships. He still wants to grow professionally and studies his opponents on video. He is never tired of learning. His secret is training very hard every day.”

It's certainly paying off so far.

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FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017

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Bayer Leverkusen were stunned in February when key midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu was suspended by FIFA for four month thanks to contractual problems from the distant past.

Little did they know, though, that it would turn out to be blessing in disguise. With the Turkish midfielder leaving for Milan in the summer anyway, Leverkusen got the opportunity to promote Calhanoglu’s replacement sooner than expected.

Havertz, who had already become the youngest debutant in club history aged 17 years and 126 days, grabbed that chance with both hands.

Amusingly, Havertz once missed a Champions League game against Atletico Madrid because he had to take exams at school – but he’s belied his tender years since breaking through and slotted seamlessly into Heiko Herrlich’s starting XI.

Magically two-footed and blessed with an outrageous passing range, Havertz was immediately compared to his idol Mesut Ozil; Leverkusen's sporting director, the legendary Rudi Voller, said so himself. Havertz's coach at the time, Roger Schmidt, praised the youngster for his intelligence and calmness under pressure. "I have never seen such a complete player at the age of 17," Leverkusen captain Lars Bender purred.

At times it feels like Havertz – who only turned 18 in June – has more time on the ball than other players, which allows him to make better decisions in his distribution. He is also tall at 6ft 1in, strong physically and good in the air, which makes life even more difficult for opponents.

Records kept coming for the young star last term. He entered the history books when assisting the 50,000th Bundesliga goal to Karim Bellarabi, and then became Leverkusen’s youngest ever scorer in the 3-3 draw against Wolfsburg.

Havertz finished the 2016/17 season with four goals to his name after scoring a brace in the 6-2 win at Hertha Berlin, and played 1,149 minutes in the Bundesliga.

His contributions are expected to be even more significant this season as countless scouts follow his progress. Havertz is mentioned as a top Liverpool target for the near future, and it’s hardly difficult to understand why – it was only at the beginning of October that he scored four of Germany U19s’ five goals against Belarus.

Scouts will have liked what they saw in a recent Bundesliga outing at Borussia Monchengladbach too, when Havertz assisted the first three goals in Leverkusen’s thumping 5-1 win.

Bundesliga and beyond, beware.

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FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017

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Vasco da Gama fans were shocked when their team was relegated to Brazil’s second division in 2015, but for promising prodigies at the club's academy it was actually positive news.

Many of them got their chance to shine in Serie B under the guidance of 1994 World Cup winner Jorginho – and some took the opportunity better than most. Douglas Luiz made the strongest impression of them all.

The youngest of those promoted to the first-team squad, he only made his debut in August 2016 at the age of 17, but immediately stood out. Skilful on the ball and determined without it, Douglas proved himself as a versatile box-to-box midfielder. His contribution to Vasco's promotion was high, and as a result his place in Serie A starting lineups wasn't questioned.

However, supporters were soon disappointed to understand that scouts hadn’t missed their new star's ascent. Manchester City signed him in the summer for €12 million, with football director Txiki Begiristain hailing the capture of “an exciting player with great potential”. “We are looking forward to helping him develop his talent,” noted the former Barcelona official.

Unlike Gabriel Jesus, though, the 18-year-old isn’t ready to play in the Premier League just yet. Therefore, City loaned him to Catalan partners Girona, who were promoted to La Liga for the first time in their history thanks in part to players who arrived from Manchester.

Douglas has only started once in Spain so far – against Barcelona, of all sides – but performed well in the big game and is likely to get a lot of playing time throughout the season. Even Brazil coach Tite is delighted with the youngster, noting his passing range and magnificent first touch.

It’s way too early for the midfielder to think about the Seleção, but his time could come in a couple of years.

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FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017

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A cultured, ball-playing centre-back, De Ligt is the pride of Ajax. His emergence was one of the brightest points of the Amsterdamers’ 2016/17 season, when they narrowly lost out to Feyenoord in the title race and Manchester United in the Europa League final. 

The teenager’s performances in Europe were terrific, and by starting against United at the age of 17 years and 285 days, the prodigy became the youngest ever Dutchman to play in a European final. He put a very decent performance too, despite Jose Mourinho’s megastars winning 2-0.

De Ligt is used to making various records. By finding the net on debut, he joined the illustrious list of Ajax superstars who did likewise – including Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten – and also became the second-youngest scorer in club history after Clarence Seedorf.

In March, he became the youngest debutant for Holland since the Second World War – but it came in controversial circumstances.

Former coach Danny Blind decided to throw the inexperienced youngster into his lineup at Bulgaria following numerous injuries, and the gamble didn't work out. De Ligt was at fault for both goals in the 2-0 defeat, and Blind outrageously decided to substitute him at half-time. He was duly fired, but the country was worried about the possible negative psychological impact on their future superstar.

They needn’t have worried: luckily for them, De Ligt isn’t fragile in the slightest. The headstrong young stopper didn't listen to his critics, and continued to focus on his performances instead.

His progress has been phenomenal. Two-footed, visionary, smart tactically, a superb passer and extremely comfortable on the ball, the 18-year-old could develop into one of the best defenders of his generation.

De Ligt’s decision to stay at Ajax for the time being has been wise, and he is now a leader at the back after Davinson Sanchez's transfer to Tottenham.  

Not bad for a player who hit adulthood less than three months ago.

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FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017

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Alexander-Arnold introduced himself to a wider audience in August with a delicious free-kick to open the scoring in a crucial Champions League play-off at Hoffenheim – “a beauty” according to one Steven Gerrard – but his reputation had been steadily growing at Anfield for some time before that.

A product of a youth academy whose output has dried up somewhat since the days of Owen and Gerrard, the full-back is – along with the similarly precocious Ben Woodburn – one half of a glittering pair who hint at renewed distinction among Melwood's youngsters.

That he was granted his first league start at Old Trafford having barely turned 18 is a mark of the esteem in which Alexander-Arnold is held by Jurgen Klopp and his coaches. He played his part in a hard-fought draw that day and has since grown in confidence and capacity, albeit in being used sparingly by a manager wary of the too-much-too-soon hazards.

His dead-ball in Germany was deployed with Jordan Henderson, Mo Salah and Emre Can all on the pitch. That the full-back put himself forward to take it is as much a sign of his promise as the way he picked out the top corner, and it's this quiet assuredness in his own technique – visible every time he has the ball at his feet – that marks him out as a player of serious pedigree.

In an era where full-backs are ever-more important, Alexander-Arnold's tireless engine and smart final ball stand him in firm stead.

1:02 for that free-kick vs Hoffenheim

The 19-year-old has since used his limited outings to add to his goal tally – a handy knack for any defender – and while a shaky afternoon against a rampant Manchester City side showed that there’s headway still to be made, all evidence points to a sparkling top-level career.

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FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017

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It was in October 2016 that Manuel Locatelli burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old, introducing himself to the San Siro crowd with a stunning volley against Sassuolo.

The goal – his first for the club – secured a much-needed victory for the Rossoneri, but it was his reaction that will surely live longest in the memories of those who witnessed it.

After bursting into tears, he was still sobbing during a post-match interview.

“It’s the moment that every kid hopes for in their life,” Locatelli said as he struggled to regain his composure. “When I realised where the ball was going, I couldn’t believe it. I started to run and then it was all real.”

While the emotion got the better of him on that occasion, his displays as the campaign wore on were superb: calm, assured and surprisingly mature for a player of so little experience.

After originally filling in for stricken skipper Riccardo Montolivo, Locatelli became indispensable to boss Vincenzo Montella, and added another belter against Juventus a few weeks later.

He ended 2016/17 having made 25 Serie A appearances, averaging 3.5 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game, but it was his ability on the ball that stood out.

Locatelli succeeded with 82.2% of his 49 pass attempts per 90 minutes, ensured Milan didn’t miss Montolivo and helped ensure a long-overdue return to Europe.

Major investment from the club’s new owners has meant the now-19-year-old has slipped back down the pecking order, but his talent is undeniable and it would be no surprise to see him back in the starting XI very soon.

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20. Panagiotis Retsos (Bayer Leverkusen)

Need to know: Born in South Africa to Greek parents, Retsos is making a name for himself in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen.

A versatile defender who has played at full-back despite being most comfortable as a centre-half, the 19-year-old is strong in the air and firm in the tackle, while he’s also willing and able to play out from the back.

The former Olympiakos man became the most expensive Greek player in history when Leverkusen splashed out €22m in the summer.

Highlight so far: Retsos appeared in October’s 2-1 win over Cyprus, a result which left Greece on the brink of reaching the play-offs for 2018 World Cup qualification.

19. Weston McKennie (Schalke)

Need to know: Christian Pulisic, John Brooks and Bobby Wood are among the United States internationals to have cut their teeth in the Bundesliga, and now McKennie is hoping to follow in his compatriots’ footsteps by stepping up to the senior national side in coming months.

A full-blooded holding midfielder, the 6ft 1in 19-year-old specialises in regaining possession for his team and moving the ball on simply to a team-mate.

McKennie has just earned his first full USA call-up for the forthcoming international against Portugal. 

Highlight so far: McKennie made his first Bundesliga start against Bayern Munich in September, and inked a new five-year-deal at Schalke just eight days later. 

18. Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig)

Need to know: “Dayot has everything needed to succeed in professional football,” said RB Leipzig defender Marvin Compper in June. It’s still early days for Upamecano’s career in Germany, but he’s already earned plenty of plaudits following his summer switch from Red Bull Salzburg.

Upamecano is an assured centre-back who reads the game well and is aggressive in the tackle, but the 19-year-old is also a tremendous passer. France aren’t exactly short of options in defence, but he’s an outside bet to make Les Bleus’ World Cup squad.

Highlight so far: The teenager showed maturity beyond his years in RB Leipzig’s impressive 3-2 defeat of Borussia Dortmund in October. 

17. Ezequiel Barco (Independiente)

Need to know: A diminutive attacking midfielder capable of operating on the left flank or in the centre, Barco has established himself as Independiente’s go-to creator.

The 18-year-old Argentine is a fantastic dribbler whose two-footedness allows him to take on his opponent on either side, and he's adept at wriggling out of tight spaces with his skill, balance and agility.

Forward Barco has scored six goals in his club career up to now, including a confident finish against Deportes Iquique in the Copa Sudamericana. There's no doubt about his self-confidence, but also from his team-mates too – the teenager is already entrusted with penalty duties. 

Highlight so far: Barco scored the equaliser in May’s 2-1 win against Huracan which helped Independiente qualify for the Copa Sudamericana. 

16. Matheus Fernandes (Botafogo)

Need to know: Fernandes only made his first appearance for Botafogo in January, but he’s already established himself as a key member of the team under Jair Ventura.

A combative, tough-tackling midfielder, the 19-year-old tends to sit in front of the defence and break up play, but he can occasionally be seen using his rangy frame to carry the ball forward.

Fernandes has played twice for Brazil’s U20s and may be eyeing a senior debut before the 2018 World Cup.

Highlight so far: The midfielder started both legs of Botafogo’s 3-0 aggregate victory over Nacional in this year’s Copa Libertadores, helping his side through to the quarter-finals. 

15. Toni Lato (Valencia)

Need to know: A homegrown left-back looking to follow in the footsteps of Jose Gaya, Valencia’s Lato has caught the eye with some fine performances in 2017.

The 19-year-old was handed his first La Liga outing in January and hasn’t looked out of place since then, demonstrating an ability to contribute in both the attacking and defensive phases.

A fast, athletic full-back who is also comfortable in possession, Lato has been linked with Liverpool in successive summers.

Highlight so far: Lato was superb for Valencia’s trip to Real Madrid in August, defending well against Gareth Bale and providing an assist as Los Che drew 2-2. 

14. Matheusinho (America Mineiro)

Need to know: A diminutive attacking midfielder who stands at just a shade over 5ft 4in, Matheusinho is one of the most talented young players in Brazil right now.

With lightning-quick feet and a low centre of gravity, the 19-year-old drifts past opponents with ease whether playing out wide or through the middle.

Matheusinho has also improved his end product in recent months, but his progress will be checked following a knee ligament rupture in October’s 1-1 draw with Parana.

Highlight so far: Matheusinho scored the winner in a crunch Serie B clash with Santa Cruz earlier this season, keeping America Mineiro on track for promotion. 

13. Timothy Fosu-Mensah (Crystal Palace, on loan from Manchester United)

Need to know: After eight years in the Ajax youth ranks, Fosu-Mensah was snapped up by Manchester United at the age of 16 in 2014. He made his senior bow under Louis van Gaal two years later, appearing alongside fellow Premier League debutant Marcus Rashford in a 3-2 victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Currently on a season-long loan at struggling Crystal Palace, the versatile Dutchman can play at right-back, left-back, centre-half or in midfield.

Highlight so far: Fosu-Mensah started United’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Everton in 2015/16, when Van Gaal’s men went on to beat Crystal Palace in the final. 

12. Felix Passlack (Hoffenheim, on loan from Borussia Dortmund)

Need to know: Borussia Dortmund have a tremendous track record of producing talented young players, and Passlack is among the latest starlets off the production line.

Currently on loan at Hoffenheim, the right-back has been compared with Bayern Munich’s Rafinha due to his pace, dynamism and composure on the ball.

“I could start crying knowing that I won't be coaching this guy,” Jurgen Klopp said before his Dortmund departure in 2015. We hope someone passed him a tissue. 

Highlight so far: Passlack captained his country at the 2015 European U17 Championship, where he scored three goals and played every minute as Germany reached the final. 

11. Tom Davies (Everton)

Need to know: The Everton academy graduate became a regular first-teamer last term, having made his Premier League bow the previous season.

An energetic, box-to-box midfielder who possesses both physical and technical gifts, Davies was named young player of the year at Goodison Park in 2016/17, after making 25 appearances in all competition.

The 19-year-old nephew of former Toffees man Alan Whittle has also represented England at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21 levels, and was invited to train with the senior squad in 2015.

Highlight so far: Davies was superb in Everton’s 4-0 thrashing of Manchester City in January, scoring a brilliant individual strike which earned him the club’s goal-of-the-season award. 

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FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017 

Words: Greg Lea, Mark White

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30. Martin Odegaard (Heerenveen, on loan from Real Madrid)

Need to know: Odegaard is better known for his 2015 transfer to Real Madrid than any on-field contributions, but there’s no denying the Norwegian is a prodigious talent.

Currently on loan at Heerenveen in the Eredivisie, the 18-year-old is a creative presence in midfield, combining sharp passing with clever movement.

Many have expressed disappointment at his relative lack of progress since moving to the Spanish capital – it never helps when you make your senior international debut at 15 – but Odegaard still has plenty of time to fulfil his enormous potential.

Highlight so far: Odegaard enjoyed a first start for Real Madrid in November 2016, playing the full 90 minutes as los Blancos thrashed Cultural Leonesa 6-1. GL

29. Maxime Lopez (Marseille)

Need to know: He may be small in stature, but Marseille’s teenage playmaker has already made a big impression in the south of France. Lopez scored three goals and provided seven assists in Ligue 1 last term, with his tricky footwork and accurate distribution making him a key source of creativity for Rudi Garcia’s side.

Lopez has reportedly attracted admiring glances from Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona and Real Madrid, but his medium-term future seems to lie at Marseille after he signed a contract extension in February.

Highlight so far: Lopez became the youngster Marseille player to score a Ligue 1 brace in 30 years when he struck twice in April’s victory over Caen. GL

28. Dennis Geiger (Hoffenheim)

Need to know: Hoffenheim manager Julian Nagelsmann was gushing when asked about Geiger in September: “He's an extraordinarily good footballer and I'm delighted for him… what I like so much about Dennis is that he has no fear and always wants the ball.”

Aggressive without possession and comfortable with it, Geiger is a midfield all-rounder who functions best in a box-to-box role. The 19-year-old has done a good job of replacing summer departure Sebastian Rudy, now of Bayern Munich, so far this season as Hoffenheim mount another charge towards the Champions League.

Highlight so far: Geiger scored the opening goal as Hoffenheim beat Schalke 2-0 in September, driving the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards. GL

27. Dennis Bonaventure (Club Brugge)

Need to know: Bonaventure was, even in his native Nigeria, unknown when Zorya Luhansk discovered him at the Abuja Academy in March 2016.

Fast-forward 18 months and the unpredictable forward has been dubbed ‘The Nigerian Neymar’, forced the Super Eagles selectors to answer repeated questions about overlooking him, and been scouted by Manchester City, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Monaco.

Bonaventure, a master at entrapping fouls, propelled Zorya to third place in the 2016/17 Ukrainian Premier League, and has made a sterling start in the black-and-blue striped No.42 shirt of Club Brugge.

Highlight so far: Five minutes into his Brugge bow, Bonaventure cut inside his man and rifled the ball into the bottom corner to give the Belgians a flying start to their Champions League qualifier against Istanbul Basaksehir. MW

26. Luka Jovic (Eintracht Frankfurt, on loan from Benfica)

Need to know: Jovic was just six when his father was being offered cash for him to cross the border from Bosnia-Herzegovina to Serbia each weekend, just to play football.

Red Star and Partizan then traded uppercuts for the signature of a kid being compared to Darko Pancev and Radamel Falcao. The former won and, though the forward outranked Dejan Stankovic to become their youngest ever goalscorer, he was sold to Benfica and is now on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Jovic has scored prolifically for Serbia’s youth sides.

Highlight so far: Aged 16, on the last day of the 2013/14 Serbian Superliga, Jovic squeezed home the goal that snatched Red Star a point at Vojvodina just 150 seconds after coming on. It was his pro debut – and enough to earn his team the Superliga title at Partizan’s expense. MW

25. Alban Lafont (Toulouse)

Need to know: Lafont is only 18, but the goalkeeper has already made 72 appearances for Ligue 1 outfit Toulouse – particularly impressive numbers for a young net-minder.  

The Burkina Faso-born France U20 international has kept clean sheets against the likes of Marseille, Nice and PSG, earning praise for quick reflexes, speed off his line and ball-playing ability.

Former France custodian Gregory Coupet is a fan, telling Canal Plus: “He’s a smart goalkeeper who reads the game well… a great career is ahead of him.”

Highlight so far: At 16 years and 310 days old, Lafont became the youngest goalkeeper in Ligue 1 history in November 2015, keeping a clean sheet against Nice on his debut. Nice. GL

24. Alexander Isak (Borussia Dortmund)

Need to know: Isak has had to remain patient for game time since his move to Borussia Dortmund in January, but there’s no doubt the Sweden international has got an extremely bright future ahead of him.

The comparisons with Zlatan Ibrahimovic go beyond Isak’s nationality: he’s a physical and technical centre-forward; quick, strong and confident in possession.

Isak also has the advantage of being able to either drop deep and link the play or run in behind, leaving defenders constantly guessing.

Highlight so far: Isak became Sweden’s youngest ever goalscorer when he struck in a 6-0 thrashing of Slovakia aged 17 years and 114 days. GL

23. Patrick Cutrone (Milan)

Need to know: Despite his club’s summer spending spree, Cutrone has succeeded in making the breakthrough at Milan this term.

The 19-year-old striker has been a rare bright spot amid the Rossoneri’s poor start to 2017/18, scoring three goals – two in Serie A, one in the Europa League – and impressing with his movement, touch and link-up play.

“Who’s impressed me the most? Cutrone. I knew about the others, but he’s impressed me so much,” recent signing Lucas Biglia said in September.

Highlight so far: Cutrone scored on his first Serie A start for Milan, netting a near-post header in the opening-day victory over Crotone. GL

22. Ismaila Sarr (Rennes)

Need to know: Sarr made headlines in the summer when he admitted to rejecting Barcelona in favour of Rennes, believing it was too early in his career to join one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Such self-awareness and maturity will stand the speedy and direct winger in good stead going forward, and the Senegalese has already established himself as a key player at Roazhon Park this campaign.

Highlight so far: Sarr scored the first goal in the 2-1 win against Nancy-Lorraine that effectively ensured Metz’s survival in Ligue 1 last term. GL

21. Xadas (Braga)

Need to know: Pirouettes, nutmegs, defence-piercing through-balls and a left boot capable of curlers and thunderbolts alike: it’s all in the armoury of Portuguese teen Xadas, who unlike many of his promising peers hasn’t been schooled at national giants Benfica, Porto or Sporting.

Braga is Xadas’s playground, though Portugal’s three superpowers, plus Lazio and Monaco, are all captivated by the 19-year-old. A couple of wonder goals from the playmaker – he never seems to score a simple strike – have helped Braga make a fine start to 2017/18.

Highlight so far: Xadas delivered a stellar performance in the last 16 at the 2017 U20 World Cup, scoring a fine first and even better second goal as Portugal beat hosts South Korea 3-1. MW

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Words: Mark White, Greg Lea

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40. Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)

Need to know: Ashley Cole 2.0? An English David Alaba? The who’s who of superpowers linked to Sessegnon – including Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Manchester United and many more – suggest those lofty juxtapositions may not be hyperbole.

The left-back made his Fulham debut just 81 days past his 16th birthday, since when he’s racked up 48 first-team appearances for the Cottagers. And he only turned 17 in May.

Sessegnon’s attacking class may ultimately dictate that he plays in a more advanced position permanently, as was the case with fellow left-footer Gareth Bale.

Highlight so far: Being integral in England’s 2017 European U19 Championship conquest, posting a brace in a 4-1 thrashing of Germany and finishing as the tournament’s joint-leading marksman. MW

39. Salih Ozcan (Cologne)

Need to know: Tim Wiese, whose career began in Cologne, quit football to join the WWE. Ozcan went in the opposite direction, quitting wrestling to concentrate on a career with Cologne.

The attacking midfielder has settled seamlessly into the first team and recently won the Fritz Walter Medal – an award previously bestowed upon Toni Kroos, Mario Gotze and Timo Werner – for being the best German U19 footballer.

Ozcan has represented Germany at every level from U15 to U19, but is still eligible to play for the senior Turkey side.

Highlight so far: Just 60 seconds into his Bundesliga debut in September 2016, Ozcan befuddled two Schalke players, leaving Naldo on his backside to present Simon Zoller with a tap-in. MW

38. Justin Kluivert (Ajax)

Need to know: He may look like his old man. He may have been showered with hype in his mid-teens and become one of Ajax’s youngest debutants. But that’s about where the similarities end between Justin Kluivert and his father.

While Patrick was a hulking striker renowned for his aerial ability and poise in front of goal, his 18-year-old son is a diminutive winger exalted for his speed and sorcery.

Kluivert broke into Ajax’s starting XI in early 2017.

Highlight so far: The Holland U21 international wowed the Ajax Arena against Go Ahead Eagles in May, pulling off one of his patented sombreros and thumping home the opener from distance. MW

37. Levi Garcia (AZ Alkmaar)

Need to know: Garcia has already been tipped for greatness by Marco van Basten, and broken a couple of Dwight Yorke records. The Trinidadian packs sprinter’s pace, hypnotic trickery and, unlike several wingers, is hard to knock off the ball. He can’t half whack a ball, too, according to Van Basten – an apt judge of a venomous shot.

Garcia has made a flying start to life with AZ in the Eredivisie, having initially joined them upon his 18th birthday in 2015, and also in the red of Trinidad’s Soca Warriors.

Highlight so far: Sixteen minutes into his international debut, away to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the 18-year-old substitute had bagged a brilliant brace to snare Trinidad and Tobago a much-needed 3-2 win in Russia 2018 qualifying. MW

36. Aymen Barkok (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Need to know: Jurgen Grabowski, Andreas Moller, Jay-Jay Okocha. They certainly love their entertainers in Frankfurt, and with Barkok the Eagles have another on their hands.

The 19-year-old has some of the fastest feet in football, studies clips of Zinedine Zidane, and isn’t shy to go for a killer pass or speculative shot.

“He is a dream footballer,” said Eintracht coach Niko Kovac of the attacking midfielder, who Arsenal have reportedly courted. Barkok, of Moroccan descent, has represented Germany at multiple youth levels and made 18 Bundesliga appearances last season.

Highlight so far: Rose from the bench to bag a smashing last-gasp winner on his Bundesliga debut against Werder Bremen last season. MW

35. Maximiliano Romero (Velez Sarsfield)

Need to know: Nicknamed ‘El Tigre’ after former boy wonder of Argentine football, Colombia striker Radamel Falcao, Velez Sarsfield predator Romero has been chewing up prey of late.

Despite being only 18, Romero can hold his own physically and score with both feet. He bagged braces in Velez’s first two 2017/18 Primera Division matches, immediately vanquishing fans’ concerns about the departure of principal goalscorer Mariano Pavone.

Romero believes only ligament damage put paid to Arsenal’s pursuit of him last year.  

Highlight so far: El Tigre undid Tigre in the opening round of Primera Division action in August, with a stretching volley and violent rocket spurring Velez to a 3-0 away win. MW

34. Axel Tuanzebe (Manchester United)

Need to know: “Alexis Sanchez knows his name now,” remarked Jose Mourinho after Tuanzebe, on his Premier League debut, kept the Chilean in handcuffs.

The teenager played right-back that day, but excelled in central midfield at the end of 2016/17 and was invariably a ball-playing centre-back for United’s youth sides.

Born in Congo but raised in Rochdale, Tuanzebe joined United’s ranks as an eight-year-old, gave his first television interview aged 11, and in 2015 became the maiden first-year scholar to captain their U18 side since Gary Neville in 1991.

Highlight so far: Tuanzebe’s top-flight bow may have ended in a 2-0 defeat at the Emirates, but his display made him the talk of Twitter and Sanchez the subject of some unflattering hashtags. MW

33. Ben Woodburn (Liverpool)

Need to know: Woodburn has been likened to former Liverpool strikers Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen since making his professional debut last year, but it’s still not clear whether he’ll go on to play through the middle – the Welshman has spent much of his early career operating from the left.

Regardless of his future position, Woodburn is a wonderfully gifted youngster who packs a range of exciting attributes including speed, intelligent movement and clinical finishing.

He became Liverpool’s youngest ever scorer when he netted at the age of 17 years and 45 days against Leeds last season.

Highlight so far: How about bagging a second-half winner from 25 yards on your full Wales debut? Woodburn made the perfect impact against Austria to keep the Dragons’ hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup alive. Alas, however, the youngster will have to wait for a taste of tournament action. GL

1:05 for Woodburn's fine strike

32. Sander Berge (Genk)

Need to know: Genk have helped develop some brilliant players in recent years, with Kevin De Bruyne, Kalidou Koulibaly and Thibaut Courtois all among the Belgian outfit’s successful alumni.

Berge will hope to be regarded in the same light as those stars one day, having hit the ground running following his transfer from Valerenga in January.

A 6ft 5in holding midfielder, Berge relies on his technical ability more than his physical gifts and excels at starting attacks from deep.

Highlight so far: Berge made six appearances in the Europa League last season as Genk reached the quarter-finals via triumphs over Athletic Bilbao, Astra Giurgiu and Gent. GL

31. Mateus Vital (Vasco da Gama)

Need to know: Vital has already experienced more ups and downs than his division-yo-yoing club. As a five-year-old he joined Vasco da Gama; aged nine he witnessed his mother being fatally shot.

Football was always his escape, and the playmaker thrived for Brazil’s U15s before being promoted to his club’s first team.

Vasco were relegated into Serie B, with Mateus demoted back to the youth team – but after inheriting their No.10 shirt in July, things have been looking up for the wispy right-footer.

Highlight so far: Belatedly broke his Vasco duck – two years after his debut – with the winner against Gremio in September. MW

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50. Rafik Zekhnini (Fiorentina)

Need to know: "Really? He’s really 17 years old? What the f***?!”

Mats Hummels was incredulous in 2015 after discovering the age of Odd attacker Zekhnini, Dortmund’s tormentor in a UEFA Europa League play-off.

After two-and-a-half years in Odd’s first team, during which time Manchester United fluttered eyelashes in his direction, winger Zekhnini joined Fiorentina in July 2017. Norway have long lacked speed and skill – attributes Zekhnini, who has dazzled for them from U15 to U21 levels, has in abundance.

Highlight so far: In the aforementioned game against Dortmund, Zekhnini skinned Gonzalo Castro to set up the opener, and conned Marcel Schmelzer with a gorgeous dragback in Odds’ dramatic 4-3 loss. 

49. Rick van Drongelen (Hamburg)

Need to know: “It’s hard to believe he’s only 18,” said coach Markus Gisdol after his new Dutch pupil performed superbly in 10-man Hamburg’s 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in October.

Van Drongelen is, nonetheless, already out of his footballing infancy. He debuted for Sparta Rotterdam at 16 and made 50 appearances for them before Chelsea showed interest, and Hamburg acted upon theirs.

The Holland U21 international is composed on the ball and reads the game effortlessly.

Highlight so far: Van Drongelen celebrated becoming the youngest Dutchman to play in the Bundesliga by doing a stellar job in Hamburg’s 1-0 win over Augsburg. 

48. Christopher Nkunku (PSG)

Need to know: Just 24 days past his 18th birthday, in late 2016, Nkunku became the sixth-youngest player to represent PSG in the Champions League.

The only midfielder above him on that list, Adrien Rabiot, has been one of the many high-profile stars limiting Nkunku’s first-team opportunities at the Parc des Princes, but Blaise Matuidi’s departure should afford him more chances.

The multifunctional youngster has excelled for France’s U20s.

Highlight so far: Nkunku bagged a brace in PSG’s 4-1 win over Real Madrid in the UEFA Youth League group stage, and was infallible as they beat the same side in the semi-finals.

47. Vasilije Janjicic (Hamburg)

Need to know: Broad-shouldered, tough-tackling, skilful and packing a powerful right foot, 18-year-old Janjicic has been described by his Hamburg coach Markus Gisdol as a player with “huge promise”.

The Swiss midfielder joined FC Zurich as a five-year-old, represented their U21 side at 15, but played all of four minutes for their first team before departing for HSV.

Janjicic, of Serbian descent, has already drawn admiring glances from Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic.

Highlight so far: Janjicic turned in a man-of-the-match display on his first start for Hamburg last season – a 0-0 draw at home to Mainz.

46. Yann Karamoh (Inter Milan, on loan from Caen)

Need to know: It’s easy to see why Inter Milan’s No.17 is compared to Ousmane Dembele. Karamoh has startling speed and electrifying skills, while strikers savour the pace that the France U21 international puts on his crosses.

Born in the Ivory Coast but brought up in France, Karamoh – a keen Chicago Bulls fan – scored five goals in 35 outings for Caen in their 2016/17 Ligue 1 campaign. He duly joined Inter in the summer, initially on a two-year loan, and has made one Serie A appearance so far. 

Highlight so far: With a bleached-blond hairstyle once rocked by Mario Balotelli, Karamoh bamboozled the Nice No.9’s defensive colleagues in March 2017’s 2-2 draw, giving Dante an afternoon to forget. 

45. Ludovic Blas (Guingamp)

Need to know: There’s little doubt that Blas is destined for great heights – it’s just a question of how quickly he’s going to reach them.

The Colombes native operates on the right wing for France’s youth sides but plays in central midfield for Guingamp, who have also used him as a holding midfielder and in behind a lone striker.

Tenacious, quick, skilful and direct, the 19-year-old Blas is in his third season as part of Guingamp’s first team and has aroused interest from Inter Milan, Liverpool and Lyon.

Highlight so far: Blas formed a deadly attacking triumvirate with Kylian Mbappe and Jean-Kevin Augustin at the 2016 European U19 Championship, propelling Les Bleuettes to glory. 

44. Sam Field (West Brom)

Need to know: The baby-faced Field looks south of his 19 years, but plays north of them. “Sam’s very mature – a good decision-maker for his age, a brilliant passer, very clever,” said his West Brom manager Tony Pulis, who described his pupil as being “as gifted as any footballer I've seen at that age”.

The midfielder, who has represented England at various youth levels, has said he used to watch former team-mate Darren Fletcher in training – no bad role model, of 323 Premier League appearances.

Highlight so far: Field thrived on his first Premier League start against Middlesbrough in August 2016, impressing with his immaculate control and passing. 

43. Hannes Wolf (Red Bull Salzburg)

Need to know: A 15-year-old Wolf hid his teary eyes by wearing sunglasses on his first few days after leaving Graz to live at the Red Bull academy.

The attacking midfielder found a tonic for his homesickness, however, by putting in extra hours on the training pitch – something he was inspired to do by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Wolf, 18, scored four goals in as many appearances for Salzburg in August and was rewarded the following month with a call-up to Marcel Koller’s senior Austria squad.

Highlight so far: Wolf scored seven goals and provided four assists as Salzburg upset the likes of Manchester City, PSG, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona to win the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League. 

42. Exequiel Palacios (River Plate)

Need to know: “I would have loved to have played alongside a player like Exequiel,” said River Plate Marcelo Gallardo of his multifaceted midfielder.

Palacios has the sharp-sightedness of a veteran, a silky touch, is an excellent tackler, can retain possession when he has no right to, and is a fine passer.

Amid growing interest from Europe, Palacios – who represented Argentina at the 2015 U17 World Cup and the 2017 U20 edition – recently committed his future to River until 2021.

Highlight so far: “I was overcome with emotion,” said a tearful Palacios after scoring his first River Plate goal in a Copa Argentina defeat of Defensa y Justicia in October. 

41. Nicolas Gonzalez (Argentinos Juniors)

Need to know: “He reminds me of [Mario] Kempes,” said Argentinos Juniors coach Alfredo Berti of his 19-year-old forward.

Gonzalez, after scoring the goal that sealed his club’s promotion, has taken the top tier by storm. Four goals in his first five starts have already led to talk of him being a future Argentina international.

He is an elusive mover with a knack for being in the right place at the right time. As an excellent finisher, he gets a lot of late goals.

Highlight so far: Gonzalez raised the roof as a sub at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona in July, blasting home a last-gasp winner against Gimnasia Jujuy to secure Argentinos Juniors a return among Argentina’s elite. 

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60. Josip Brekalo (Stuttgart, on loan from Wolfsburg)

Need to know: ‘The Croatian Arjen Robben’ is Brekalo’s nickname – and not just because of the pace that could have earned him a career as an 800m runner.

Brekalo, like the Dutchman, constantly demands possession and has the tricks to make full-backs dizzy. Wolfsburg paid Dinamo Zagreb €6m for the left-winger in 2016 before loaning him to Stuttgart.

Brekalo has made over 60 appearances for Croatia at youth level.

Highlight so far: In just his second appearance for Stuttgart, Brekalo came off the bench, spun his Heidenheim marker and, with the ball running away from goal, somehow rocketed a shot in off the angle from way out.

1:40 for Brekalo’s beauty

59. Amadou Haidara (Red Bull Salzburg)

Need to know: Box-to-box midfielder Haidara’s arsenal includes volcanic shooting power and the instinct to get himself into range – which is basically anywhere within 35 yards of goal.

Haidara announced these gifts at the 2015 U17 World Cup, where his two screamers and combative performances helped Mali finish as unforeseen runners-up.

This year the 19-year-old has helped Salzburg conquer the UEFA Youth League, bagged a couple of goals in his first few starts for their first team – belters, naturally – and debuted for Mali.

Highlight so far: Haidara’s ball recovery, infectious energy and eagerness to put Belgium on the back foot were central to Mali pulling off an upset and reaching their first FIFA final in 2015. 

58. Viktor Tsygankov (Dynamo Kiev)

Need to know: “He's cut from the same cloth as Andriy Shevchenko,” said Dynamo Kiev president Ihor Surkis of Tsygankov: a pacy, prolific left-footer who prefers to play on the right wing.

‘Sheva’ was suitably impressed – he handed Tsygankov his maiden senior Ukraine call-up in 2016 when he was just 18.

Born in Israel, where his goalkeeper father Vitaliy was playing, Tsygankov counts Mario Gotze and Lionel Messi as his heroes and has considerable experience for his age.

Highlight so far: Tsygankov snatched Dynamo a point at Besiktas in the Champions League with his first touch after coming on, becoming their second-youngest European marksman after… well, you know who. 

57. Giuseppe Pezzella (Udinese)

Need to know: Calcio embraces full-backs who can use both feet, and Pezzella has begun his mission to emulate Paolo Maldini, Gianluca Zambrotta & Co. strongly.

Neapolitan Pezzella helped Italy finish runners-up at the 2016 European U19 Championship, and third at the 2017 U20 World Cup. The combative left-back joined Udinese from Palermo for €4.5m after the latter’s Serie A relegation in 2016/17.

Highlight so far: Pezzella was instrumental in Italy’s last-16 upset of France at the U20 World Cup, producing a fine cross for Riccardo Orsolini’s opener and an admirable tackle to deny Jean-Kevin Augustin. 

56. Juan Foyth (Tottenham)

Need to know: Foyth has been likened to Gerard Pique and John Stones, and his elegance and ball-playing have strong roots – he was a No.10 in the Estudiantes youth ranks until being abruptly converted into a centre-back just before he turned 16.

Having impressing for the Rat Stabbers and been lauded by their chairman Juan Sebastian Veron, Foyth was courted by PSG – but Tottenham ultimately wooed him, largely thanks to having a former Argentine defender in Mauricio Pochettino at their controls.

Highlight so far: The Argentina U20 international did well on his Spurs bow against Barnsley in the League Cup, standing out with his neat ball work, precise passing – and even a 50-yard run. 

55. Jeff Reine-Adelaide (Arsenal)

Need to know: Mesut Ozil, minutes after helping Arsenal best Chelsea in the 2017 FA Cup final, suddenly demanded a cameraman’s attention. He pointed towards a surprised Reine-Adelaide, who was suited among a crowd of Arsenal players, and declared: “This is the Arsenal future.”

With his zeal for flair, the 19-year-old midfielder has enraptured onlookers while playing for Arsenal’s reserves and French youth sides, though he has been urged to add goals to his game.

Reine-Adelaide has eight Arsenal appearances to his name so far, but he's yet to add to that tally this season.

Highlight so far: The Frenchman’s unpredictable dribbles were key to France’s 2015 European U17 Championship conquest. He was duly named in its Team of the Tournament. 

54. Dan-Axel Zagadou (Borussia Dortmund)

Need to know: Borussia Dortmund’s first gamble on a French teenager banked them an astronomical profit – and the early signs are that giant defender Zagadou will prove a similar hit.

Youth specialists Dortmund plucked the 18-year-old from PSG’s youth ranks, despite competition from Manchester City. Zagadou, who can play at centre-back or left-back, went straight into Peter Bosz’s starting XI and has stood out with his frame-defying dribbles and forcible defending.

Highlight so far: Dortmund kept just one clean sheet in their last 11 games of 2016/17. With the France U18 captain in their backline, they began their Bundesliga campaign with five successive shutouts. 

53. Carles Alena (Barcelona)

Need to know: Alena joined Barcelona as an eight-year-old, at which point he’d have loved to know that Xavi would be raving about him a few years later.

His Messi-esque wonder goal against Roma in the UEFA Youth League had Planet Football salivating, and it came as little surprise that the 19-year-old’s new contract (penned in September 2017) had a whopping €75m release clause in it – despite just three La Liga appearances to his name.

Alena, 19, possesses all the inventiveness an apprenticeship at La Masia imparts into players, and is viewed as Andres Iniesta’s successor.

Highlight so far: “If there’s anybody who won’t freeze on the big stage, it’s Carles.” Alena’s Barcelona B coach Gerard was right: on his Barcelona debut in November 2016, the left-footer thumped in a 33-yard screamer to grab a 1-1 draw at Hercules. 

52. Federico Valverde (Deportivo La Coruna, on loan from Real Madrid)

Need to know: The hopeful heir to Toni Kroos’s throne at Real Madrid, Valverde boasts dynamism, a turn of pace, stamina, skill and a fearsome shot. His best attributes are his laser vision and pinpoint passing.

Madrid bought Valverde from Penarol in 2016 and loaned him to Deportivo La Coruna for the 2017/18 season. The Montevideo native seized the Silver Ball at the 2017 U20 World Cup, and helped Uruguay qualify for Russia 2018 with three appearances.

Highlight so far: Valverde marked his senior Uruguay debut with a 30-yard long-ranger in a 2-1 victory over Paraguay in World Cup qualifying. 

51. Alejandro Pozo Pozo (Sevilla)

Need to know: With Pozo's impeccable touch and pristine passing in mind, it’s surprising to consider that he started out as a right-back. It was as an attacking midfielder that he began intriguing Barcelona, however, prompting Sevilla to tie him down until 2020.

The youngest Spaniard to play for Sevilla Atletico – the Seville heavyweights’ B team – ‘Pozito’ was nominated for the 2017 Golden Boy award ultimately won by Kylian Mbappe, and is a mainstay for Spain’s U19s.

Highlight so far: In November 2016, the then-17-year-old’s smashing volley earned Sevilla Atletico a 1-0 victory over Mirandes in the Spanish second tier. 

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70. Ovie Ejaria (Liverpool)

Need to know: Born in the same London borough as Rio Ferdinand, Duncan Goodhew and David Haye, Ejaria was thrilled to join his beloved Arsenal as a seven-year-old.

His sadness at being released by the Gunners nine years later didn’t last long, though, as esteemed clubs hoyed apprenticeship forms at him. The attacking midfielder reportedly rejected PSG to join Liverpool, and has since made a splash for their reserves after putting in extra hours to improve his goals return.

Though part of a Nigeria U17 training camp in 2013, Ejaria played a bit-part role in England’s FIFA U20 World Cup triumph.

Highlight so far: Ejaria’s distribution caught the eye on his first Liverpool start, when he held his own against Eric Dier & Co. in a 2-1 win over Tottenham in the League Cup in October 2016.

69. Maximilian Wober (Ajax)

Need to know: Ajax parted with €7.5m in August to make the elegant centre-back the Austrian Bundesliga’s biggest-ever sale – merely five months after he was representing Rapid Vienna’s reserves in the country’s third tier.

Wober inherited the No.5 shirt vacated by Davinson Sanchez and swiftly began to enjoy playing time under Marcel Keizer.

The 19-year-old, a fixture in Austria’s youth sides, made his senior debut in October’s 3-2 win over Serbia in Russia 2018 qualifying.

Highlight so far: Wober, on his maiden Eredivisie start, ended a spot of pinball in the Heerenveen box to open his Ajax account - and helped them keep a clean sheet. 

68. Orel Mangala (Stuttgart)

Need to know: “I like to try to play like Luka Modric,” once said Mangala. “My main strength is my technique.”

Hannes Wolf absolutely agrees. When he swapped coaching Borussia Dortmund’s youth sides for Stuttgart, he made it a priority to take Mangala – who’d helped Belgium finish third at the U17 World Cup in 2015 – with him.

The 19-year-old has since bloomed in the Bundesliga with his crafty footwork, passing and tenaciousness.

Highlight so far: Mangala delighted the Stuttgart supporters on his first home game for the club: a 1-0 win over Mainz, which drew praise from Wolf and Holger Badstuber.

67. Vinicius Junior (Flamengo, joining Real Madrid in 2018)

Need to know: A wonderkid manning the hype podium on which Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar stood as 17-year-olds.

Exhilarating attacker Vinicius has already been signed by Real Madrid for a staggering €45m – when he was just 16. He’ll move to the Bernabeu when he turns 18 next July, and in the meantime has been wowing Flamengo fans.

A strong, supersonic dribbler, Vinicius hit 24 goals in 29 outings for Brazil’s U15 and U17 sides. Spanish sports daily AS called him “a more modern and stronger version of Neymar”. No pressure, lad.

Highlight so far: Brazil’s No.11 was unplayable against Paraguay at the South American U17 Championship in March, putting a goal on a plate for Lincoln and, in a moment that will decorate his highlight reel for decades to come, executing three consecutive chapéus on three different opponents. He finished the tournament as its best player and top scorer.

66. Kevin Danso (Augsburg)

Need to know: MK Dons had two precocious talents on their books a few years back. One went on to dazzle for Tottenham and England; the other made the curious switch to Augsburg and, on early evidence, is destined to follow a similar path.

A hulking centre-back or holding midfielder, Danso has taken to Bundesliga life brilliantly – and broken into the senior Austrian national team.

Highlight so far: His league debut came against free-scoring Leipzig in March, but Danso emerged from it with the man-of-the-match award – and the respect of Timo Werner, who called his marker “a colossus”. 

65. Matias Zaracho (Racing Club)

Need to know: “He’s a footballer who knows how to do everything,” said Fabio Radaelli, under whose tutelage the midfielder was in the Racing Club youth ranks. “He’s a great decision-maker, creative, has two feet and, above all, is superb with his head.”

Indeed, it was with his noggin that the attacking midfielder scored – and made a goal-line clearance – in Argentina’s thrashing of Guinea at this year’s U20 World Cup. He also headed a maiden goal for Racing – not bad for a player who’s usually the smallest on the pitch.

Highlight so far: A player’s first professional goal is always special. Zaracho’s came with the extra gloss of being the winner against Colon – in front of Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli, no less. It earned him high praise from Racing legend Lisandro Lopez. 

64. Faitout Maouassa (Rennes)

Need to know: Faitout, or ‘fait tout’ (means ‘does everything’ in French), is embracing his name. The 5ft 7in all-rounder started out as a forward, but has been stationed at left-back for the France youth sides, and operated as a central or left midfielder in Ligue 1.

Faitout is blessed with exceptional acceleration, instinctive movement, skill and a firm shot, but is also adept defensively. He contributed three goals and three assists in 19 2016/17 appearances for Nancy before joining Rennes.

Highlight so far: Helping France become European U17 champions in 2015 and, alongside Kylian Mbappe, U19 kings the following year.

63. Lovro Majer (NK Lokomotiva)

Need to know: Although nationality begs comparisons with Luka Modric, assist prince Majer is more like former Yugoslavia No.10 Dragan Stojkovic.

With mercurial footwork, an ability to side-step opponents with ease, play breathtaking through-balls and fire in goals from distance, the 19-year-old has been linked with Atletico Madrid, Everton and Sampdoria but, somehow, remains with Lokomotiva.

Given how regally Majer has been performing in the 2017/18 Croatian top tier, they’ll face an uphill task to keep him in January.

Highlight so far: Despite starting on the bench, Majer was handed the coveted No.10 shirt when he went on for his Croatia debut against Mexico in May.

62. Claud Adjapong (Sassuolo)

Need to know: He may be ‘Claudio’ to his Italian team-mates, but everybody in Serie A knows Adjapong’s name by now.

The attack-minded full-back, who’s able to play on both flanks or in midfield, has made a place in Sassuolo’s starting XI his own in 2017/18. The Modena-born player had a Ghanaian passport until 2016, but has since impressed for Italy’s U19 and U21 teams.

Highlight so far: The Sassuolo No.98’s tactical awareness, pace and craft in a 1-0 victory over Cagliari in September earned him praise from team-mate Paolo Cannavaro: “[Adjapong’s] good at all aspects of the game. He’s got a big future.” 

61. Sergio Diaz (Lugo, on loan from Real Madrid)

Need to know: ‘The Paraguayan Aguero’, apparently. Diaz, a slight and bustling forward, played in the Paraguayan top flight when he was 15, scored in the South American U20 Championship when he was 16, and then the Paraguayan Superclasico at 17 – all records.

After impressing for Cerro Porteno and Paraguay at the Toulon Tournament, Diaz joined Real Madrid as an 18-year-old in 2016, and is gaining experience on loan at Segunda Division side Lugo. The bountifully-inked attacker made his senior international debut against France earlier this year.

Highlight so far: On his Libertadores debut, against tournament favourites Corinthians, the 17-year-old scored an Aguero-esque goal and provided an assist in a thrilling 3-2 win. 

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Words: Michael Yokhin, Mark White

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80. Malang Sarr (Nice)

Need to know: Nice boss Lucien Favre is known for nurturing young players, but few expected him to make a 17-year-old the lynchpin of his central defence during 2016/17.

Sarr scored the winner on the opening weekend and never looked back, showing maturity beyond his age. He made 27 appearances as Nice took Ligue 1 by storm to finish third, his tactical awareness and bravery truly astonishing for a stopper with such little experience.

Highlight so far: Sarr was outstanding as Nice thrashed Monaco 4-0 in September 2016, keeping a clean sheet against a potent attacking line-up that would go on to secure the Ligue 1 title. MY

79. Calvin Stengs (AZ Alkmaar)

Need to know: The exciting left-footed right-winger broke into AZ Alkmaar’s side towards the end of 2016/17 in emphatic fashion, catching the eye with his superb speed, imagination and trickery.

Stengs was set to be one of the rising stars of the new season, but a broken leg on the opening weekend at PSV ended his campaign before it had barely begun. He’ll hope to return stronger next term.

Highlight so far: Stengs bagged a brilliant brace against Groningen in May’s European play-off competition, the icing on the cake after a string of supreme performances for the Cheeseheads. MY

78. Gedson Fernandes (Benfica)

Need to know: The 18-year-old Portuguese is yet to make his senior debut for Benfica, but his performances for the youth national teams have been sensational and he has already represented their U20 side.

A central midfielder with excellent vision and magical passing skills, Fernandes is a joy to watch and was deservedly in the team of the tournament as Portugal won the 2016 European U17 Championship.

Fittingly, Gedson scored the winning spot-kick in the final to overcome Spain on penalties.

Highlight so far: An astonishing UEFA Youth League goal against Besiktas in 2016, from inside his own half. MY

77. Johannes Eggestein (Werder Bremen)

Need to know: Older brother Maximilian Eggestein has already become an important player in Werder Bremen’s midfield – and now 19-year-old Johannes is making his first steps in the Bundesliga.

They made history as the first pair of brothers to be on the pitch at the same time for Die Werderaner, and have represented Germany U21s together too. Unlike his sibling, Johannes – nicknamed ‘Jojo’ – is a striker. Blessed with good ball control and decent positional sense, he is expected to enjoy a breakthrough season in 2017/18.

Highlight so far: Eggestein scored 34 goals in just 28 matches for Bremen’s U19 team in 2015/16, including three hat-tricks. MY

76. Reece Oxford (Borussia Monchengladbach, on loan from West Ham)

Need to know: Everyone was stunned when Slaven Bilic gave a 16-year-old Oxford his Premier League debut for West Ham on the opening weekend of 2015/16. But his impact was sensational – the youngster bossed the midfield at the Emirates against Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey as the Hammers beat Arsenal 2-0.

The future looked extremely bright, but the hype proved to be short-lived: for some reason, the teen wasn't handed more decent opportunities and eventually returned to the under-23 team.

A short loan spell with Reading at the beginning of 2017 proved to be unsuccessful, and now Oxford – a ball-playing central defender by trade – is warming the bench at Borussia Monchengladbach. His time will surely come somewhere.

Highlight so far: The extraordinary performance against Arsenal two years ago remains his pinnacle – which currently stands as the sixth-youngest Premier League debut. MY

75. Moise Kean (Hellas Verona, on loan from Juventus)

Need to know: Kean is the first noughties-born player to appear in the Champions League, and also to play – then score – in one of Europe’s big four leagues. And he did it at Juventus.

Now 17 and on loan at Verona for 2017/18, Kean boasts blistering speed, flashy skills, and has hit eight goals in 17 appearances for Italy's U17s.

With a funky hairstyle, enrapturing goal celebrations and hype CEO Mino Raiola for an agent, the striker – like Mario Balotelli – is unlikely to be far from the headlines. So far, for all the right reasons.

Highlight so far: Less than two weeks after being challenged to score more headers, he nodded home a last-gasp winner at Bologna on the final day of 2016/17 – his first Juventus goal. MW

74. Fikayo Tomori (Hull, on loan from Chelsea)

Need to know: Arsenal and Manchester United hopelessly failed to tame Marcus Rashford in March 2016 – but a Canada U20 defender showed them how it was done that month in a shock victory away to the Young Lions.

Tomori, born in Calgary but brought up in Kent, was eventually wooed by England and before long had helped them win the U20 World Cup.

The defender thrived as Chelsea conquered the FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League, and is now on loan at Hull after a spell in Brighton last season.

Highlight so far: Athletic and excellent in one-on-one situations with strikers, Tomori was a paramount performer as England kept four clean sheets en route to U20 glory in Suwon. MW

73. Dzenis Burnic (Stuttgart, on loan from Borussia Dortmund)

Need to know: Jurgen Klopp, needing to make up numbers due to several of his players being on international duty, invited a few youth-teamers to La Manga, Spain for a training camp. After only one practice session he told his Borussia Dortmund superiors to tie Burnic down for the long-term.

The Germany U19 international, who debuted for BVB at centre-back but prefers to operate as a playmaker, will spend 2017/18 on loan at Stuttgart under his former coach Hannes Wolf.

Highlight so far: Burnic, whose forte is his passing, captained Dortmund to the Bundesliga U19 crown in 2017 – his fourth straight title-winning season in the youth ranks. MW

72. Nonoca (Cruzeiro)

Need to know: “My dad was nicknamed Nonoca. When you’re from a small city like mine, they call you by the same nickname as your father. At first I wasn’t too keen, but now I like it because it honours my dad,” said the Cruzeiro defensive midfielder, whose father passed away when he was young.

Former Brazil manager Mano Menezes promoted the powerful enforcer into his first team at the start of the year, and the shy teenager responded with some bold performances.

Highlight so far: Nonoca was at his bullying best on his professional debut against Democrata in April. MW

71. Marcelo Saracchi (River Plate)

Need to know: A tough-tackling, adventurous left-back with experience way beyond his 19 years, Saracchi was nabbed by River Plate in August – reportedly under the noses of Inter Milan – on the recommendation of their Uruguayan demigod Enzo Francescoli.

They got a player who has already appeared in two U20 World Cups, played over 60 games for Uruguay at youth level, and been a regular for Danubio in the Uruguayan top tier since 2015.

“He’s very hard to get past,” said PSV trickster Gaston Pereiro.

Highlight so far: In October, Saracchi burst onto an Ignacio Scocco pass and drove the ball into a seemingly non-existent gap between post and goalkeeper to send River on their way to a 4-1 win over Atlanta in the Copa Argentina. MW

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FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017

• SEE ALSO How our list of the world's 100 best teenagers was decided

90. Berkay Ozcan (Stuttgart)

Need to know: Compared to Mesut Ozil by some, Ozcan chose to represent Turkey even though he was born in Germany. That could prove significant in the future, because the midfielder showed great promise during Stuttgart's promotion campaign in 2016/17, playing in 21 matches, scoring two goals and providing three assists for his team-mates.

It took him a while to make his mark in the Bundesliga – the 19-year-old is still considered quite raw physically – but Ozcan has started Stuttgart's last two matches and grabbed two assists in their 3-0 win over Freiburg. Things are looking up. 

Highlight so far: That recent display against Freiburg. Ozcan teed up goals for Daniel Ginczek and Benjamin Pavard late in the first half to help give his side a solid half-time lead; the first a cross, and his second via a free-kick.  

89. Guus Til (AZ Alkmaar)

Need to know: A tall, attacking midfielder, Til combines technical skills with physical presence and is effective in the air.

Born in Zambia, he spent his early years in Mozambique and Namibia before settling in the Netherlands and becoming one of the top prospects of AZ Alkmaar’s academy.

After making his debut in September 2016, Til is now a certain starter for the Cheeseheads and has won half a dozen caps for the Dutch U20 side, too.

Highlight so far: Til has netted seven Eredivisie goals to date, with September’s winner against NAC Breda especially impressive. He's been on fire recently, striking both goals in a 2-1 win over Heerenveen before netting in the 3-2 victory against Willem II. 

3:41 for Til’s goal

88. Gian-Luca Itter (Wolfsburg)

Need to know: Itter must have been delighted when Martin Schmidt was appointed as Wolfsburg coach in September 2017. The Swiss specialist loves giving youth players a chance, and the 18-year-old left-back has been given the opportunity to prove his worth in the Bundesliga.

Speedy, skilful, elegant and tactically alert, he’s a top prospect and many expect him to become a national team star.

Itter’s twin brother David-Jerome is also on Wolfsburg’s books, and both have been watched by Arsenal.

Highlight so far: Itter made his Bundesliga bow playing 90 minutes in the dramatic 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich in September, which proved to be the last league match of Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure.

87. Julien Ngoy (Stoke)

Need to know: Ngoy is so highly rated that Monaco considered signing him as a replacement for PSG-bound superstar Kylian Mbappe.

Powerful and skilful, the Belgian forward has potential, though his progress is taking a little more time than expected. Stoke nipped in ahead of Manchester United and Real Madrid to sign him in 2013, but he is yet to make a meaningful impact in Mark Hughes’s first-team squad yet having just turned 20. 

Ngoy made only five Premier League substitute appearances during 2016/17 but penned a new five-year contract with the club in September.

Highlight so far: Playing against Manchester United for 17 minutes isn’t much of a highlight, but it’s the most he’s achieved so far.

86. Giovanni Troupee (Utrecht)

Need to know: Troupee wanted to be a pilot as a child, but had to settle for football and has emerged as the most promising young right-back in Holland.

He made his debut for Utrecht at the age of 17 and became a regular starter during 2016/17, featuring in 31 matches and combining tenacity, lightning speed and a desire to join attacks at every opportunity.

Carles Puyol is his role model and Troupee resembles the Barcelona defender even in hairstyle.

Highlight so far: Troupee scored three league goals in 2016/17, including one in a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Feyenoord.

85. Ronaldo Vieira (Leeds)

Need to know: Named after the Brazilian great, Ronaldo has a twin brother called Romario and both have unusual career stories.

Born in Guinea-Bissau, Vieira emigrated to Portugal and later joined Benfica’s academy, but the family moved to England and Leeds were lucky enough to pick him up.

An all-around midfielder, he played in 34 Championship matches under Garry Monk last season and was subsequently called up to England’s U20s.

Highlight so far: Vieira scored a magnificent long-range injury-time winner at Norwich in November 2016 – his only goal for Leeds so far.

84. Rui Pires (Porto)

Need to know: A classy defensive midfielder, Pires has been hailed for his ball-winning skills and fine distribution, and is widely seen as the heir to Danilo in Porto’s side.

He has only featured for the reserves so far, having captained the youth team, but Pires has shown signs of promise and been praised by coach Antonio Folha. Many expect him to be promoted to the first team during 2017/18.

Highlight so far: Pires was influential as Portugal reached the final of the 2017 European U19 Championship in Georgia, and was deservedly included in the overall team of the tournament.

83. Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)

Need to know: Could this be one of the biggest steals? Sancho, a winger with outrageous skills, was considered a top prospect at Manchester City but joined Borussia Dortmund in August 2017 as he felt his path to the senior side was blocked.

Keen to make his mark, he got his wish in Germany – and received the No.7 shirt vacated by Barcelona-bound Ousmane Dembele. BVB paid £8m for a player who’s hit 16 goals in 19 games for England U17s.

Highlight so far: Sancho became the first Englishman to play for Dortmund in the Bundesliga when he made his debut against Eintracht Frankfurt in October – and nearly scored, too.

82. Marquinhos Cipriano (Sao Paulo)

Need to know: Described as one of the biggest Brazilian prospects in his age group, Marquinhos has a release clause of €30 million.

Sao Paulo signed the attacking midfielder from Desportivo Brasil in 2015, and over the last two years he’s attracted interest from PSG, Porto, Manchester City, Arsenal and Juventus.

While frequently featuring for Brazil’s U20s, he is yet to star for the Sao Paulo first team.

Highlight so far: Marquinhos impressed for the Seleção U20s at the 2017 Toulon Tournament – won by England.

81. Federico Dimarco (Sion)

Need to know: An attack-minded and fast left-back with a decent shot, Dimarco sees Roberto Carlos as his role model. Somewhat amusingly, he was shown the door at Inter just like the Brazilian.

Born in Milan and raised at the academy, he made his debut for the Nerazzurri aged 17 but was considered surplus to requirements this summer after a loan spell at Empoli. Dimarco was sold to Sion with a buy-back clause, and plans to return to the San Siro after proving his worth for the Swiss Super League side.

Highlight so far: Dimarco scored twice – a penalty and a free-kick – to sink England in the semi-finals of the 2016 European U19 Championship, taking his overall tally in the tournament to four.

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FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017

If you hadn't already noticed, FourFourTwo.com are teaming up with the fine folks at Football Manager this week to deliver our list of the 100 Best Teenagers* in the World 2017.

Exciting, we know. 

In the lead-up to Football Manager 2018's big release on Friday, we'll be rolling out the 100 every day until then – and beginning the top 10 reveal from Thursday. 

But who makes the cut? Well, you'll have to come back throughout the week to find out exactly, but it's worth noting how we got to where we did. 

We're sure you're perfectly aware of Football Manager's ludicrously big database of players – one that's used by figures within the game and not just keen gamers around the world – but perhaps not how they assemble their data each year. There's more detail about that here from our chat with FM research assistant Stephen Davidson, but TL;DR: there are more than 1,100 scouts around the globe watching hours of football at various levels, then reporting back. 

And that, in short, has formed the basis for our 100. Each teenager who makes the cut is among Football Manager 2018's best for either current ability or potential – or terrifyingly in many cases, both. World, beware. 

Head back to FourFourTwo.com throughout the week to find out the full list, then tell us what you think on social media (here on Facebook, @FourFourTwo on Twitter). 

Football Manager on Facebook | Twitter 

*Teenagers as of w/b October 23, when we began compiling this list. You'll note the odd 20-year-old here – but we're sure you'll agree they justify their selections. 

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FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017

Words: Michael Yokhin, Joe Brewin

• SEE ALSO How our list of the world's 100 best teenagers was decided

100. Reiss Nelson (Arsenal)

Need to know: Compared to Arsenal icon Thierry Henry, the young Gunners winger is certainly hyped. Nelson is trying to keep his feet on the ground, though, and his attitude has been hailed by Arsene Wenger.

Light-footed and technically talented, Nelson is learning to help out in defence and has been picked as a wing-back in League Cup and Europa League matches in 2017/18. The 17-year-old has also scored nine goals in 10 matches for England U17s and was part of the side which reached the quarter-finals of the 2016 European Championship.

Highlight so far: Nelson couldn’t believe his luck when he came on at Wembley in the 2017 Community Shield. He played only three minutes against Chelsea, but ended up on the winning side. MY

99. Fabian Reese (Schalke)

Need to know: Few expected Reese to feature for Schalke after his difficult loan spell at Karlsruhe, who were relegated to the third tier in 2016/17. But boss Domenico Tedesco believes in the youngster nicknamed ‘Super Fabi’, and has handed him six substitute outings in the Bundesliga this season.

Tall and good in the air, Reese tries to emulate his idol Robin van Persie. He’s been praised for his work rate, motivation and intelligence, but needs to improve tactical aspects of his game.

Highlight so far: Reese won the Under-19 Bundesliga with Schalke in 2014/15 and then hit 14 goals for them the following season. MY

98. Mile Svilar (Benfica)

Need to know: Svilar will never forget his "trial by fire" – as described by his own manager, Rui Vitoria – in becoming the Champions League's youngest-ever goalkeeper aged 18 and 52 days against Manchester United in mid-October. It ended in a 2-0 defeat and a costly mistake from the Antwerp-born net-minder – but his reaction was telling.

In the return game at Old Trafford, Svilar's first-half heroics – including a saved penalty – kept United at bay, until Nemanja Matic's fierce effort cannoned off the post and back onto the teenager for a desperately unlucky own goal. "We only talk about him being 18 because his identification card says that," said boss Vitoria pre-match. "He actually shows maturity above his actual age."

No prizes for guessing the team that's currently being linked with his services long-term. 

Highlight so far: Saving Anthony Martial's spot-kick... and doing it at Old Trafford. "At my age it's something special," Svilar reflected post-match. He's not wrong. JB

97. Nicolas Schiappacasse (Atletico Madrid)

Need to know: He's got an Italian passport, as his surname may suggest, but Schiappacasse represents Uruguay and is considered one of the top South American prospects in his age group.

River Plate (of Montevideo) handed him his debut at the age of 16, and Atletico Madrid scouts were quick to react. Schiappacasse is yet to make his mark in Spain but he is highly rated by Diego Simeone and been invited to train with the first team on several occasions.

Highlight so far: Schiappacasse scored an injury-time winner for River Plate in a 2015 showdown with Defensor Sporting. MY

96. Jordan Lotomba (Young Boys)

Need to know: Versatile and already experienced, Lotomba looks destined for a very bright future. He is able to play in defence and midfield on both flanks, combining sound tackling and positional sense with speed and attacking instincts.

Having emerged as a right-back for Switzerland U21s, Lotomba is now predominantly a left-back at Young Boys, who recruited him from Lausanne in the summer. His dream is to join a top Spanish club, and it shouldn't be beyond him.

Highlight so far: Lotomba scored the crucial goal that helped Young Boys beat Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League qualifiers – albeit thanks to a disastrous goalkeeping error. MY

95. Cameron Carter-Vickers (Sheffield United, on loan from Tottenham)

Need to know: Carter-Vickers represents the USA at youth level but was born and raised in Southend, and joined Spurs’ academy at the age of 11.

The strong centre-back may have expected to get a decent chance in north London sooner, but it’s proved impossible so far and manager Mauricio Pochettino opted to loan him to Sheffield United for the current campaign. The 19-year-old quickly became the first-choice option for the Championship’s surprise package.

Highlight so far: Carter-Vickers marked his Blades debut with a 33rd-minute winner at Bolton in mid-September. MY

94. Jacob Bruun Larsen (Borussia Dortmund)

Need to know: Borussia Dortmund love nurturing young widemen, and left-footed wing wizard Bruun Larsen is definitely an exciting talent.

Recruited from Lyngby in 2015, the Dane scored at will for the U19s, convincing BVB’s management to promote him to the senior side. He made his Bundesliga bow at Hamburg in September and continues to impress in the UEFA Youth League, bagging a brace in the 5-3 win over Real Madrid.

Highlight so far: Bruun Larsen scored 20 goals in just 17 matches for the U19s during 2016/17, hitting five against Wuppertaler. MY

93. Krystian Bielik (Arsenal)

Need to know: Nicklas Bendtner was once loaned from Arsenal to Birmingham when considered a great prospect, but hopes are high that Bielik will turn out to be more successful.

There’s still a good chance of that, since the Polish starlet is calm and level-headed. A graceful centre-back who can also perform in defensive midfield, Bielik made 10 league appearances for Birmingham last season but is yet to feature for the Gunners this term. Arsene Wenger purchased the ex-Lech Poznan trainee from Legia Warsaw in 2014 for £2.5m.

Highlight so far: Bielik was impressive in pre-season for Arsenal, though it's difficult to judge him against modest opposition. MY

92. Simone Lo Faso (Fiorentina, on loan from Palermo)

Need to know: Palermo are famous for their excellent scouting abroad but Lo Faso is very much a local jewel – he was born in Palermo and joined the academy aged 14.

A skilful second striker, he made his first-team debut last season and started for the first time in the Eagles’ 6-2 loss at Lazio. Following Palermo's relegation, Fiorentina took him on loan with an option to buy – and he’s made a positive impression on coach Stefano Pioli.

Highlight so far: A quarter-final appearance at the 2015 European U17 Championship with Italy. Lo Faso scored an important goal against the Republic of Ireland during the group stage. MY

91. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic, on loan from PSG)

Need to know: A tall, burly striker born in French Guiana, Edouard has already achieved quite a lot. He was top scorer at the 2015 European U17 Championship with eight goals – the best-ever record in the competition – and then produced some sterling performances for PSG in the UEFA Youth League as they reached the final in 2016. Edouard scored his first Ligue 1 goal last season while on loan at Toulouse.

This term he could become a key player for Celtic, and found the net on his Scottish Premiership debut.

Highlight so far: His hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Germany in the final of the 2015 U17 Euros was phenomenal, and Edouard was rightfully selected as the best player of the tournament. MY

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FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017

YouthHawk is, to quote them quite correctly, "the biggest and more informative database on youth football". They know their stuff better than anyone, and you can find their site here

Curtis Anderson (Man City)

The Cheshire-born keeper caught the eye with his maniacal performance in the last-16 penalty shootout win over Japan as he saved, scored and goaded en route to victory.

Despite keeping six clean sheets in 13 tournament games this year, Anderson mainly featured as an understudy for City’s U18s before departing for India, so will return to Manchester with a first aim of establishing himself as No.1 with the Etihad youngsters.

Steven Sessegnon (Fulham)

Only two of the 14 players who featured in the final for England have played more than five minutes of senior competitive football at club level and, unsurprisingly, both represent Championship sides.

While twin brother Ryan Sessegnon has established himself as a regular at Craven Cottage, Steven’s trajectory has been less steep but no less encouraging. After forcing his way into England manager Steve Cooper’s first XI at the tournament and assisting two goals in the final, the full-back could soon be knocking on the door of Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic, whose side have struggled to maintain their promotion ambitions.

Marc Guehi (Chelsea)

An ever-present in India, Guehi and his Chelsea U18 team-mates have made lifting trophies a regular habit in 2017. However, the defender’s pathway to the first team at Stamford Bridge remains a long and obstacle-filled one; he still awaits his U23s debut and is probably 18 months away from a maiden loan move.

Jonathan Panzo (Chelsea)

Still only 16, the left-back has long been admired at the FA but is yet to make a consistent impression for the Blues – albeit only three months into his first year as a scholar. His athleticism and composure in possession will stand him in good stead, but there’s still plenty of work to do before he's able to stand out from the crowd of impressive young Englishmen at Stamford Bridge.

Joel Latibeaudiere (Man City)

One of England’s best performers at the tournament, Latibeaudiere has captained City’s PL2 side this term and was voted their Academy Player of the Year last season – evidence of the 17-year-old’s positive development in the north-west.

While Pep Guardiola’s table-topping side might seem a daunting one for any teenager to break into, central defence is perhaps one area that could be targeted – though expect Latibeaudiere to spend some time on loan first.

George McEachran (Chelsea)

He may be the same age now as when older brother Josh made his first-team debut for the Blues in 2010, but 17-year-old George McEachran remains some way off competing with N’Golo Kante or Tiemoue Bakayoko for a place in Antonio Conte’s midfield. His slight build and metronomic control of games may be better suited to European football than the Premier League, so a temporary spell with Vitesse could actually work well once he’s mastered U23s football with the Blues.

Tashan Oakley-Boothe (Tottenham)

If any of these World Cup winners could handpick a manager to develop under over the coming years, Mauricio Pochettino would be high on the list. The Argentine has done more for developing young English talent than most during his five years at Southampton then Tottenham, so Oakley-Boothe is in a good place at Spurs. He'll have to bypass Harry Winks and Josh Onomah in the queue for midfield opportunities first, though. 

Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolves)

The midfielder’s 192 minutes of football in 2016/17 account for over half the senior game time of those who featured in the final, though Gibbs-White has not been seen at Molineux this season due to an injury which kept him out of club football ahead of the U17 World Cup.

Success at the tournament has boosted his profile, but Wolves sit top of the Championship, so breaking into the first team will be no easy task. Expect more PL2 football and perhaps a Football League loan in January for the scorer of England’s equaliser against Spain in the final.

Phil Foden (Man City)

Player of the tournament in India and already the apple of Pep Guardiola’s eye, Foden is in a pretty good place to be nurtured and slowly integrated into the Manchester City first team. Whether it’s deemed he needs to cut his teeth with a loan move first – perhaps a spell at one of City’s extensive global network of partner clubs – remains to be seen, but a senior debut is surely only a matter of weeks away.

In the long term, competing with the likes of David Silva might appear a daunting task but the Stockport starlet could be the natural heir to a man who turns 32 in January.

Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea)

2017 FA Youth Cup Final: one goal, one assist, winner. 2017 European U17 Championship Final: one goal, runner-up. 2017 U17 World Cup Final: two assists, winner. Hudson-Odoi has stepped up to prove his worth as a big-game player for club and country this year, his dazzling footwork and endless creativity catching the eye of all those who've seen him in action.

Already one of the stand-outs in Chelsea’s U23s, the 16-year-old now has to negotiate the tricky late teenage years in SW6. Following Tammy Abraham’s blueprint to reach the Premier League might not be a bad idea, so a Championship loan in the next two windows looks a good bet.

Rhian Brewster (Liverpool)

Eight goals at a World Cup finals will always stand you out from the crowd, and Brewster’s predatory instincts have got those at Anfield very excited indeed. His next challenge is to get the serious attention of Jurgen Klopp, and scoring goals for Liverpool’s table-topping PL2 side is the best way to do that.

The young Reds had won six from six before Brewster’s departure to India, with the 17-year-old netting on three occasions. In the three games since, they’ve lost twice. If he keeps up his goalscoring form, Klopp’s romanticism could lead to a debut for the teenager before the year is out.

Nya Kirby (Crystal Palace)

Despite something of a crisis blowing up at Selhurst Park this season, a threadbare squad struggling with injuries and abysmal form, Kirby has yet to find himself in a matchday squad for Palace.

The midfielder featured mostly from the bench for the young Lions in India and will probably be forced to settle for a return to U23 football with his club, though playing alongside counterparts from Colchester, Crewe and Millwall is hardly elite development for the former Tottenham teenager.

Conor Gallagher (Chelsea)

A dependable go-to for Cooper in the latter stages of games at the tournament, Gallagher had not represented his country at any age group before his surprise inclusion in the travelling group to India. His club form has been mixed, with time mostly spent in the youth team, and he has plenty to improve before advancing towards the senior game.

Angel Gomes (Man United)

Jose Mourinho anointed him flavour of the month last May, handing the then-16-year-old a cameo against Crystal Palace and placing him in the record books as the first player born in the 21st century to play Premier League football. But history tells us Mourinho teenage debuts are worth little more than the paper the team sheet is written on (ask Anthony Grant, Steven Watt and Jimmy Smith).

Gomes may feel he has something to prove after losing his place in Cooper’s starting team, and his first task will be breaking into Ricky Sbragia’s reserves upon his return to Carrington.

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Jairo Torres, Mexico (midfielder)

Torres has quickly climbed the charts with Atlas, making his Liga MX debut during the 2016 Apertura at the age of 16. The explosive wide attacker has mostly set up shop in the Liga MX Under-20 competition, where he’s a constant menace for opposing defences.

Torres is capable of playing on either flank and pulls the opposition apart with his runs in behind, breaking down defenders with or without the ball. Having been named the Golden Ball winner at the CONCACAF qualifying event in 2017, a star turn in India is sure to keep the spotlight on the Guadalajara native.

Mohammed Dawood, Iraq (forward)

The trip to India is a return to the scene of a 2016 triumph for Dawood and the Iraqi U17s – the talismanic attacker helped his side lift the AFC U16 trophy there last summer. Dawood hit the winning penalty against Iran to seal the title, was named the competition’s Most Valuable Player and finishing as its top scorer.

Capable of scoring in a variety of ways, Dawood was unstoppable up front against AFC competition. An even bigger task awaits him in India this time around, as he’ll look to crack the Group F backlines of England, Chile and Mexico. Scouts will surely be watching the Al-Naft forward closely.

Takefusa Kubo, Japan (midfielder)

Japan’s ability to produce and develop technically gifted attacking players shows no signs of waning. Not only is Kubo one of the latest, he could end up eclipsing the accomplishments of some of his compatriots.

Currently on the books at FC Tokyo, Kubo made his J-League debut earlier this season, and also competed at the U20 World Cup in South Korea. Aged only 16, Kubo was previously on the books at Barcelona – part of the overseas academy contingent that drew the ire of FIFA in 2015 and forced him to return to his homeland.

Kubo has continued to refine his attacking skill since then, as a diminutive force capable of beating players off the dribble or scoring goals on his own. Even if he’s slightly younger than some of his opponents, he is surely poised to dazzle in India.

Angel Gomes, England (midfielder)

Even with the availability of team-mate Jadon Sancho up in the air – his new club Borussia Dortmund are seeking to keep Sancho in Germany for the U17 World Cup, with the latest reports suggesting that he will only be released for the tournament’s group stage  – England have an impressive group heading to India. Among them is Gomes, a Manchester United academy player who made his Premier League debut on the final day of last season (and with that, becoming the league's first Year 2000-born player).

The classic No.10 is an impressive player for his age, boasting a flashy passing range, high-level understanding of the game and ability to open things up with delicate dribbling. He wasn’t part of England’s U17 UEFA Championship squad due to injury suffered before the competition, and can make up for lost time at the World Cup.

Eric Garcia, Spain (defender)

There’s little not to love about a Barcelona-bred defender who has caught the eye of Pep Guardiola. Like other players on the list, Garcia made headlines over the summer when he made a move of his own, swapping La Masia and Barcelona for Manchester City. Adding intrigue to the entire saga is that Garcia’s agent happens to be Barça legend Carles Puyol.

Born in 2001, Garcia is one of the youngest players at the competition, and will certainly be the focus of City fans keen to check in on one of their many academy starlets. The centre-back has earned comparisons with Puyol himself, and Garcia’s comfort on the ball stands out. He’ll have to play his way onto the field for a talented Spain side, though if he gets the chance, his quality will be easy to spot.

Jann-Fiete Arp, Germany (forward)

The Hamburg product is yet to make a Bundesliga appearance, though his prodigious scoring rate and fox-in-the-box ability makes him a strong contender to finish as the World Cup’s top scorer. Arp was linked with a move to Chelsea earlier this year before renewing his contract with Hamburg, an indication of the attention he has already drawn to himself.

His star turn came earlier this year at the UEFA U17 Championship, when he scored seven goals – including two hat-tricks in the group stage. A classic poacher who can finish everything in and around the box, Arp has a trick or two up his sleeve; he's excellent playing off his team-mates, and packs a decent shot from distance. If Germany are to perform to expectations in India, they will need a big performance from their No.9.

Amine Gouiri, France (forward)

Pipping Arp as the top scorer at this year’s UEFA U17 Championship, Gouiri is another player nudging out of the ridiculous pipeline of talent France is churning out. The Lyon striker is an excellent finisher, and can also create off the dribble for either himself or his team-mates.

Gouiri has quick feet and is built well enough to match up physically with opposing centre-backs. He scored seven goals in three group games at qualifying, and matchups against New Caledonia, Japan and Honduras are certain to lead to more goals for the forward.

Yadir Meneses, Colombia (midfielder)

A left-footed attacking midfielder from Envigado, Meneses elicits the comparisons of compatriot James Rodriguez because of his background and playing style similarities. Meneses now has a World Cup platform of his own to shine on, starting with a group that includes host nation India, Ghana and the United States.

Meneses is an interesting case, since he’s played his way into the Colombian side in the wake of the South American U17 Championship. While it’s always unfair to compare teenagers to much-accomplished counterparts, the graceful midfielder will soon have a chance to prove just how well he matches up to his elder counterpart.

Aminu Mohammed, Ghana (forward)

A force to be reckoned with at any World Cup, Ghana arrive in India with another impressive squad of rising stars. One of those who has emerged at this point is Mohammed, an exciting attacking player who has been linked to a handful of prominent European clubs.

His current club, Wafa SC of Ghana, earlier this month denied that he has already been sold to Manchester City. Whether a move has been lined up or not, Aminu’s chance to compete at this World Cup is the perfect one for a talent like him to be spotted.

He’s an impressive blend of speed and technique in the final third and should have a field day against opposing U17 defences.

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After publicly questioning Tottenham’s transfer policy, Danny Rose may well have needed to Google at least one of the club’s latest recruits. But while many will question whether 19-year-old Juan Foyth is ready to be plunged into action, those who know him best are in no doubt.

Despite his lack of senior experience, the coaches who have overseen his development at boyhood club Estudiantes and within the Argentine youth ranks are confident that Foyth is not only one of the country’s best defensive prospects for the future, but talented enough to provide Mauricio Pochettino with an immediate option.

Spurs identified Foyth months ago, but that didn’t prevent a transfer saga that dragged on until late in the window. Estudiantes president, the former Argentina international and ex-Pochettino team-mate Juan Sebastian Veron, travelled to London to discuss the move. But when PSG rivalled Tottenham and the price was hiked up, it appeared as though the youngster would slip Spurs' net.

The persistence of compatriot Pochettino proved instrumental in securing Foyth’s signature, though, and Tottenham eventually tied the youngster down to a five-year deal for a fee of around £8m.

Selling Spurs

After several telephone calls between Pochettino and the player, Foyth explained his decision: "It's a club [Tottenham] that bets on the young and I think I'm going to have a chance to play.

“I also spoke with Mauricio Pochettino and I liked what he said. It's what helped me decide that Tottenham was the right place to continue my career. He told me to go train and, if I deserved it, that I would play. He also told me what the club was like and what his work ethic was."

Hermes Desio, Argentina’s new youth coordinator after excelling in the same role with Estudiantes, expects Foyth to genuinely challenge for a first-team spot – and not be afraid about the prospect either. 

“Juan has the ability to arrive there [Tottenham] and play,” Desio tells FFT. “He is a player who will ask for that; he will want to play and the responsibility will not weigh on him at all. This is perhaps one of his strongest characteristics.

“His mentality will be to go there with the firm idea of playing – the pressure of the stadium, the people or the supporters won't enter his thoughts. Nothing will stop him, and his desire to play so much will mean he will feel at ease."

Desire to learn

Amid his impressive displays for Estudiantes and Argentina U20s, those most familiar with Foyth’s strengths make similar statements about the youngster’s mentality and temperament.

Martin Gaimaro, the head coach of Estudiantes’ U16s and the man credited with transforming Foyth into a central defender only a few years ago, is in complete agreement with Desio.

“When we began working on coaching him in that position [central defence], we obviously concentrated on the aspects of the game that it requires. But above everything we taught Juan, I always emphasise his will, and his desire to learn and perfect himself.”

These mental qualities are evident in Foyth’s calm approach to defending; his outstanding technical ability and comfort with the ball at his feet enable the youngster to dribble out from the back and really impress.

With a wonderful range of passing and the ability to turn out of tight spaces, beat a man and drive forward, Foyth exhibits many of the skills associated with players that feature much further upfield. It's not too surprising, however, when you consider that Foyth played as an attacking midfielder until Gaimaro spotted his potential and converted him to central defence shortly before the player turned 16.

“I saw that he had many qualities to play in central defence, and he also had the physical qualities – tall, skinny and fast,” Gaimaro explains. “He is very good technically, to be able to play that first pass and provide a good option out of defence, but also has a personality that is unique.

"Juan is calm, with the maturity of an older player – and that calmness is great on the pitch when things are chaotic. It allows a player to make very good decisions, but Juan also has a love for the game and a desire to win.

"These characteristics are not taught in football – they are his own, and it was these that we were watching and thinking his future was as a central defender."

From attack to defence

Such a significant change in roles at an advanced stage of development is not too common, but Desio – who oversaw the transition in his role as youth coordinator in La Plata – believes there are advantages from once being at the other end of the pitch.

“I think having played as an attacking midfielder helped Juan a great deal," he attests, "because he had seen the situation from a different perspective. Juan was able to interpret where the problem was and how to resolve it.”

Gaimaro’s vision has proved hugely beneficial to Estudiantes, Argentina and Foyth – and the process was far quicker than expected too. Those at the club say Foyth's promise was clear almost immediately.

One of the last of those youth coaches to have managed the fledgling centre-back before his first-team promotion was Gustavo Salinas.

“Ever since moving into central defence, Juan stood out for his elegance on the ball and being very strong when defending in one-on-one situations,” Salinas recalls. “He is quick, skilled and very intelligent.”

This combination of technical excellence, mental strength and maturity fast-tracked Foyth through the system at both club and international level.

In the space of a year, Foyth went from Estudiantes’s U18s to the reserves, to training with the first team and into Nelson Vivas’s starting XI.

With Argentina, the teenager was used for training against the Olympic squad before impressing for the U20s at the South American Championship in January 2017.

Despite Foyth impressing with his own displays, the Albiceleste's U20s ultimately failed – but in the Estudiantes first team, collective results were more impressive. Foyth's seven Primera appearances yielded five clean sheets, and only one teenager in Argentina’s top flight averaged more tackles per game.

Foyth didn’t feature in El Pincha’s Copa Libertadores campaign, in which Vivas’s side went out in the group stage, but he subsequently proved that may have been a mistake with his performances in the Copa Sudamericana. The teenager's imperious displays against Nacional de Potosi helped sealed a 3-0 win over two legs as Estudiantes advanced to the last 16.

Surprise switch

As accomplished as the 19-year-old has been at every step of his career to date, an £8m move to Europe may appear premature given his lack of experience.

Hermes Desio, however, thinks otherwise. “I’m honestly not surprised to see where he is now, making such a big leap, because he is such a capable lad," Desio says.

“He is very clear and has always been prepared for this moment. He knew what he wanted to be, and the fact that he has achieved this is fantastic."

This is not to suggest that Foyth is the finished product, but Spurs could be the ideal place for his continued development.

“I have no doubt that his arrival at Tottenham will be a very important next step for him, to continue to grow working under a great coach [Pochettino]," says former coach Gustavo Salinas.

Desio agrees. “Absolutely,” he affirms. “I think with the experience that Mauricio has; that he is a coach who enhances players and even more so having a personal knowledge of the position that Juan plays... there is nothing to prevent his continued growth.”

Though yet to make his Tottenham debut, the future is bright for Foyth and potentially exciting for Spurs.

“Juan is a player with a great future,” Salinas predicts with certainty. “I have no doubts that, due to his ability, perseverance, intelligence and technical qualities, Juan is destined for the Argentina team.”

Foyth, in turn, has always appreciated the support of those around him: after making his senior Estudiantes bow, the young stopper went back to visit the coach to whom he feels particularly indebted. Foyth called in on Martin Gaimaro at his youth team office to present him with the shirt he'd worn in that first game – and the man who set this remarkable rise in motion couldn’t speak highly enough of his protege.

“He has always had the humility to name me as the one who put him in the position that he plays today and that speaks volumes about him as a person,” said Gaimaro. “Above everything else and everything that is happening today, he is still very down to earth.”

Mauricio Pochettino has already spoken of Foyth’s “massive potential”, and while there will be no rush, Hermes Desio feels Spurs have a rare talent on their hands.

“Juan is one of those defenders that isn't seen very often in any part of the world,” he concludes. 

This could be £8m very well spent for Tottenham. 

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Rarely, if ever, can a prospective transfer be simultaneously described as both ideal and horribly ill-advised. Currently, however, Tottenham are flirting with that dichotomy in their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain’s Serge Aurier.

It’s a situation which has been forced by the sale of Kyle Walker to Manchester City. Mauricio Pochettino had decided as early as March that Walker’s shifting priorities had made him expendable, but must also have known that the full-back’s acceleration and staggering athleticism would, in their absence, leave a void in his first team.

Kieran Trippier is a fine crosser of a ball and, in Kyle Walker-Peters, Spurs have a young player capable of enjoying a Premier League future.

Nevertheless, neither covers the pitch in quite the same way as Walker. His detractors commonly reference his haphazard delivery and occasional defensive blunder, but the essence of his value lies in his ability to provide shape. By virtue of being able to cover so much space, Walker was the bridge between the two halves of Pochettino’s team; able to cover the channels to the right of the centre-halves, but also a decisive attacking component who drew markers’ attention beyond the halfway line. He may have his flaws, but Walker is an impact player capable of changing the speed of a game.

The natural replacement

Superficially, Aurier is a natural replacement. He's the quintessential modern full-back: loaded with skill, full of dynamism, and with the lung capacity of a deep sea diver. At just 24 years old and priced at under £25m, Tottenham would - under normal circumstances - be crazy not carry an interest.

But this is not a normal situation. As the rumours of his arrival in north London have intensified, so the discussion about Serge Aurier the person has begun.

The last two years of Aurier’s career reads as a vivid caveat. He has been banned and fined by UEFA for making disparaging remarks about a Champions League referee, and arrested for (and convicted of) assaulting a police officer after refusing a breath test. Notoriously, he was also filmed on social media making disparaging remarks about several PSG team-mates.

Worse, they included a series of homophobic slurs against his then-manager Laurent Blanc.

If the bulk of those issues can be categorised as generic, the latter cannot. Supporters have generally accepted that young athletes, sometimes without the benefit of a regular upbringing, make mistakes. They also understand that great wealth can sometimes acts as a multiplier of personality defects, often created by the over-indulgence that the game affords its gifted youth.

If that was the extent of the complication, it’s likely that Tottenham’s signing of Aurier would pass without incident - maybe with an urging for caution and concerns about a wayward character, but nothing truly prohibitive.

The remarks made by Aurier don’t fall into that category, though. The loaded terminology used, whether measured or flippant, carried a great deal of offence. At a time when football believes itself to be entering into a period of heightened awareness, the perception of a seemingly unrepentant player being allowed to continue their career without major repercussions is particularly damaging.

Ultimately, what none of the initiatives which either target homophobic abuse or promote equality for LGBT people obscure, is that football retains a habit of whitewashing social issues at its convenience. As has been shown in other instances, albeit involving behaviour aimed at other minorities or directed towards particular ethnicities, sporting achievement is often allowed to masquerade as redemption.

Tottenham's conundrum

Mauricio Pochettino is a diligent manager who prioritises squad harmony above everything else. This implies that, if Tottenham’s interest is firm and they do intend to complete this signing, he has received certain assurances from Aurier’s representatives or the player himself. Such due diligence is entirely appropriate, but it would amount to just a single layer of a process which needs to take place.

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Whatever the sporting value of the player may be, the greater concern is that his arrival alienates supporters from the club - that his signing, by implication, tramples the fears and concerns of those fans and entrenches them within a moral dilemma. It would be a grave mistake, for instance, if Tottenham - or any other club - believe that a nice cross, an important goal or just a series of good performances would be a sufficient form of redemption.

The hope must also be, beyond the worst case scenario of zero communication, that the boundaries of acceptability are not drawn by the club and bluntly presented to those with concerns. The club are not in a position to tell its supporters what they should be comfortable with, and they must not be tempted to draw their own line under a matter of such complexity. While fans sometimes have unrealistic expectation over the influence they can expect to exert, this is an instance in which co-operation with LGBT supporter groups should be considered mandatory.

It’s plausible that Serge Aurier becoming a Tottenham player would have a depth of impact which isn’t fully understood, but that only emphasises the importance of a conversation. Rather than just a presentation of facts, that must be a discourse in which people are actually heard and their perspective genuinely respected and acted upon.

Perhaps Tottenham have had Aurier’s remorse demonstrated to them. Maybe. But that’s still something which must be communicated properly, because - as yet - the toxicity of the Blanc episode hasn’t been contained. At least in public, there has been no real show of contrition, comprehension or regret.

Without that, there's no validity to the voices of appeasement who urge forgiveness. It’s credible to portray Aurier as a troubled young man, as someone detached from society by his wealth, and also a person who hasn’t necessarily enjoyed certain environmental or societal privileges, but those kind of arguments are always lit by contrition.

In 2017, the growing belief is that supporters only matter to football clubs for as long as they’re willing to pay for tickets and buy replica shirts. They can certainly be forgiven for believing that they only matter for as long as they can afford that relevance.

In this particularly instance, though, Tottenham have to tread very carefully, or otherwise they’ll create another reason for people to turn away. Not because they want to, but because they have to. Serge Aurier might well be a very fine footballer, but sporting ambition is never reason enough to compromise the values of a club or create conditions under which anybody feels uncomfortable inside their stadium.

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It hasn't taken long for Ruben Neves to show his class in the Championship. The 20-year-old midfielder, signed from Porto for £15.8m in the summer, has already made a significant impact at Wolves, impressing in Nuno Espirito Santo's side's victories over Middlesbrough, Derby and Hull, the latter of which featured a superb goal from the Portugal international.

FourFourTwo returns to a player we first profiled in 2015 to see whether he's begun to fulfil the potential he demonstrated as an 18-year-old, and evaluate just how big a coup Wolves have made by securing his signature.

Goal at 2:01

The story so far

Born in a district near to Porto, Neves joined the club youth academy at the age of eight. He quickly progressed through the youth ranks and was called up to senior training in July 2014, bypassing both the U19 and reserve team levels.

From there, the midfielder would go on to break a number of club records: in August 2014 Neves became Porto’s youngest ever scorer in the Primeira Liga - on his debut, no less - and five days later became the club’s youngest Portuguese player to appear in the Champions League, in a play-off tie against Lille.

Following a spell on the sidelines with injury, Neves continued his record-breaking streak in 2015, becoming the youngest player to captain Porto in the Champions League in October - a record previously held by Rafael van der Vaart - and then becoming the youngest player to appear in more than 50 games later that year.

It wasn't all positive, though. The 2016/17 season, when Porto were managed by current Wolves boss Nuno, wasn't a successful one for Neves, who made just nine starts in all competitions. Prior to that campaign Neves was being touted as the next big thing, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City all supposedly keeping a close eye on him, but competition from Danilo Pereira for his preferred defensive midfield slot saw him drop down the pecking order.

Nuno was relieved of his duties in May, before becoming Wolves head coach just nine days later. With a little help from super-agent Jorge Mendes, the former goalkeeper was able to bring Neves with him, as the player sets about enhancing his reputation in England's second tier.

Strengths

As he showed against Hull, Neves's greatest strengths are his technical ability and distribution. He plays with a maturity that belies his youth, and his intelligent positioning and accurate passing have led to comparisons with Sergio Busquets. Tactically astute, Neves reads the game in such a way that he's almost always available to receive the ball and improve his team's shape in possession, although he has some way to go to reach the level of the Barcelona man.

Neves showed in the summer that he has built on the promise shown in his early days at Porto, playing a key role for Portugal's U21s at the European Championship. The 20-year-old played his usual game of alternating between splitting the centre-backs and helping his team build up from the back, and moving slightly higher to combine with his fellow midfielders.

“People talk about his technical and tactical talent, but Ruben Neves has extraordinary talent in terms of his mentality," former Porto B coach Luis Castro said in 2014. "He plays the game with incredible calmness and knows what each passage of play asks of him.”

Neves contributes defensively, too, having shown himself to be adept at pressing with intensity and dropping back to cover team-mates who have joined the attack. In many ways, he looks like the perfect modern, defence-minded midfielder.

In more general terms, a stint as Porto captain at the age of 18 suggests leadership qualities and a strong character, traits which may prove invaluable as Wolves attempt to return to the Premier League.

Weaknesses

Some have cited Neves’ scoring record as a potential weakness, although a lack of goals isn't a major problem for a holding midfielder. Regardless, he showed against Hull that he can certainly strike a ball when he needs to.

A more significant deficiency could be his physicality. As already noted, Neves lost his place in the Porto team to Danilo, a stronger, more imposing midfielder who possesses the sort of physical presence that Neves does not.

Indeed, the latter is more of a cultured regista than an aggressive ball-winner, and he could yet run into problems in the Championship as a result. If he's able to improve in that regard, though, he will take a step closer to becoming a complete midfielder.

They said...

"For a 17-year-old, [Neves] is fantastic with the ball at his feet," former Porto team-mate and Barcelona winger Christian Tello said during his time at the Estádio do Dragão. "He knows how to position himself and he’s aggressive. He’s similar to Sergio Busquets.”

Did you know?

The 27-time national champions Porto failed to win a single trophy during Neves' three years at the club.

What happens next?

Neves has been linked with some of Europe's major clubs in the past, but for now the midfielder’s priority will be bedding in at Wolves and helping the team's promotion push.

Next summer could bring a host of offers from sides competing in Europe, though, particularly if Neves dominates the Championship in the way that many expect him to. He may currently be away from the limelight of Europe's top divisions, but the 20-year-old midfielder could still have the world at his feet.

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The 60-second story

Liverpool are reportedly interested in Nice's midfield star Jean Michael Seri – and they're far from alone. Arsenal and Tottenham are also rumoured to be in the chase, and it's easy to understand why. The 25-year-old Ivorian has been at the heart of an exciting team that made huge headlines in Ligue 1 on their way to the club's first ever Champions League qualification.

Nice play attacking football, and their magnificent results include a 4-0 thrashing of champions elect Monaco and a 3-1 triumph over the multimillionaires of PSG. The diminutive Seri, almost ever-present in the starting line-up, makes this team tick.

Only Marseille's Morgan Sanson has provided more than Seri's nine assists, while the Ivorian has netted six goals as well. Yet his overall contribution goes well beyond those stats. Serie is a true star, and could be ready for the big move.

Why you need to know him

Seri is a versatile midfielder who’s dedicated, hard working, humble and always willing to learn. "I listen to criticism rather than praise, because that's the way to improve. You can't make progress if you only focus on the things you do right," he told Sportif 225 in his homeland.

His attitude is the reason behind the rise of this talented schemer. Seri wasn't even the first-choice option at his Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas initially, but won over the coach Sebastien Desabre who noted: "He is a very good listener." 'Mika', as the player is known, exploded in his second season at the club and caught the attention of Portuguese scouts.

Porto signed Seri in 2012, but used him solely in the reserve side without giving him a taste of first-team football. The Ivorian didn't complain. He just moved to the modest Portuguese club Pacos de Ferrera, and gradually proved himself. Seri was voted the team's best player in 2014/15, and Nice – who have a good scouting network that enables them to unearth prodigies – were quick enough to sign him for just €1m.

Spectical Eaglets' fans knew next to nothing about the new arrival, but Seri won over them within weeks. His remarkable stamina and precise passing enabled him to become key to Claude Puel's plans in the 2015/16 season, when Nice surprised France and fought for Champions League qualification. The whole country sat up and took notice when Seri ran the show as the chief playmaker in a 3-0 win over Lyon, and there have been no doubts about his abilities since.

Seri, who doesn't hide his ambitions to play for Barcelona, has always had Xavi as his idol and role model. "He is someone I looked at for a long time and analysed his game. Xavi has the ability to calm the game, not by voice but by what he does with the ball. He is thoughtful, makes simple but clever moves, and doesn't lose the ball.”

In fact, the Ivorian sees keeping the ball as his main duty on the pitch. It’s hardly surprising that he completed 90% of his passes last season, while only PSG stars Thiago Motta and Marco Verratti have attempted more passes than Seri on average. That doesn't mean that the Nice architect is unadventurous: the midfielder is always looking to play the ball forward and is rightfully considered one of the most inventive players in Ligue 1.

Puel (who claimed that Seri specialised in hidden passes) might have left for Southampton last summer, but the Ivorian has made additional improvement under the guidance of new boss Lucien Favre, becoming more consistent as an all-round midfielder. It's difficult to imagine how Nice would play without him right now.

Strengths

Seri is so versatile that nobody really knows what his best position is. He can be a deep-lying maestro in the style of Andrea Pirlo, is frequently used as a box-to-box midfielder, and excels when positioned as a classical playmaker behind the strikers.

His passing abilities are continuing to improve and he wins his fair share of balls in defence. Seri also brags a decent shot from distance, and his free-kicks cause plenty of problems for the opposition. His character has proven to be positive in overcoming the early setback of being ignored at Porto, and the tendency to be critical of himself should enable him to progress even further.

Weaknesses

Seri might be lacking leadership qualities at this stage of his career. His influence tends to diminish when Nice are dominated by opponents, and he is not exactly the player to take the game on himself and shift the momentum. The Ivorian is a quiet person, and requires players who show fighting spirit and make their voice heard alongside him.

They said...

"I played with a lot of quality performers in my career, and Mika is on par with them,” said former Bayern Munich centre-back Dante, who now plays for Nice.

Did you know...

Seri suffers from chilblains – painful and itchy swellings on the skin when the weather is cold. That could be a minor problem if he were to live in an English climate, and the Premier League suitors should be aware of the issue, just as the player himself is.

What happens next?

It's logical to assume that Seri would be a welcome addition at Anfield, and he has the quality to succeed at the highest level in the Premier League. However, his style may be better suited to Spanish football – even without taking the chilblains into account.

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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund)

Aubameyang enjoyed his best ever season in 2016/17, scoring 40 goals in 46 appearances for Dortmund. Following such a fruitful campaign, it's believed that the Gabon international will finally depart Germany this summer in search of a new challenge. He was close to signing for PSG last month but the French club eventually decided to pull the plug, meaning that the player is still up for grabs.

Chelsea, however, will need to act fast if they want lure Aubameyang to Stamford Bridge: Dortmund’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke says BVB are only willing to listen to offers for their most valuable player for “a few more days”, before they take him off the market.

Positives

At 28, Aubameyang is at the peak of his powers. He's an experienced and proven goalscorer who has tormented defences in Germany and across the continent in the past few years. With his startling pace, perfect movement inside the box and lethal finishing, the former Saint-Etienne man could be an ideal fit for Antonio Conte’s fast-paced and dynamic team.

The possibility of seeing the reigning champions execute a counter-attack (which served them well on many occasions last season) with Aubameyang up front is a frightening prospect. He's also versatile and can be used on both flanks if needed, while his work-rate and willingness to help out his team-mates in defence is another asset which Conte would surely appreciate.

Negatives

Ironically, Aubameyang’s biggest strength could also be his biggest weakness. He's a player who relies on his speed and, at his age, you have to wonder when he will start to decelerate. The 28-year-old doesn’t create a lot of opportunities for his team-mates and his passing abilities can let him down. He has been accused of being selfish in the past and it's something he will need to correct in order to integrate properly into Chelsea’s team. The physical nature of the Premier League could also be a problem for Aubameyang, as he doesn’t have the necessary strength to outmuscle opponents.

Alvaro Morata (Real Madrid)

Morata was one of Manchester United's main targets this summer, but the negotiations with Real Madrid dragged on and the two sides couldn’t find an agreement. United quickly turned their attention elsewhere and snatched Romelu Lukaku from under Chelsea's nose. Now the Blues are reportedly looking to return the favour, and hoping to be more successful in their attempts to persuade Madrid to send Morata their way instead. 

Positives

Conte is a long-term admirer of the Spanish forward, having once urged Juventus to sign him. Unfortunately the pair didn’t have a chance to work together: Conte shockingly resigned from his position in the summer of 2014, before Morata’s arrival in Turin. Three years later they might finally have another opportunity, this time in England.

The 24-year-old has a number of qualities which would suit Chelsea and their system. Morata is a tactically intelligent and unselfish player who possesses splendid athleticism and mobility in the final third. He knows how to shield the ball and is also direct with his runs, proactive with his passing and combines perfectly with other team-mates up front.

Despite not being considered a regular at the Bernabeu, Morata is coming off a career-best season with 20 goals in all competitions, having netted on average every 89 minutes. His 27.2% conversion rate was superior to Lukaku's 22.72%, and even surpassed Premier League top-scorer Harry Kane's 23.36%. Morata also has a reputation of showing up in big games, which he earned during his time at Juventus with goals in the latter stages of the Champions League.

Negatives

Despite playing for European giants Real Madrid and Juventus, as well as representing his country 20 times, there are still doubts if Morata is ready to be a first-choice striker at a big club. He hasn’t been able to cement his place in the starting line-up in either of his spells in Italy or Spain, and there are many who question his ability to step up consistently. Morata certainly deserves a chance to prove that he can be a great No.9 who can lead a team, but will Chelsea be the club to take that risk? They'll face a fight from Milan first. 

Andrea Belotti (Torino)

Belotti is one of the most sought-after players in this transfer window, regardless of his €100m release clause (and Torino are adamant they won’t sell him for anything less). He notched up 26 league goals and seven assists for his club last season, and is already regarded as Italy’s best striker following his stellar campaign in Serie A. Chelsea icon Gianfranco Zola has already urged his former club to sign the Italian this summer, believing that Belotti would perfectly suit Conte’s side and that he would have no trouble adjusting to the Premier League.

Positives

Belotti is the first striker in Serie A to score 24+ goals before turning 24 since Andriy Shevchenko in 1999/2000. But that's an omen to ignore: the 23-year-old's style of play and variety of ways in which he scores goals are genuinely impressive – ‘The Rooster’ netted 11 goals with his favoured right foot, six with his left and 10 headers.

Of all reported targets, Belotti is the most similar to Diego Costa. He's a dominating presence in the box, strong and capable of holding up the ball long enough to allow his team-mates to join the attack. Although he’s not fleet-footed, he boasts excellent timing at running behind defences.

Negatives

Belotti had an incredible season and his rise to prominence points towards a player with a bright future ahead of him. However, he's inexperienced and hasn’t played in any major competition outside of Italy. He's not particularly skilful with the ball and needs to put more work into the defensive side of his game. Spending a giant fee on a young player who had an amazing year (or year-and-a-half) and expecting him to perform on all fronts next season for Chelsea is a big ask, but Belotti has broad shoulders and might just be able to carry those expectations.

Mauro Icardi (Inter)

Signing any of the aforementioned players would require Roman Abramovich to dig deep into his pockets and make one of most expensive purchases in the Premier League’s history. If the Russian owner is ready to do that, then Chelsea should seriously consider one the continent's most deadly strikers of the past few years.

Unlike the other players here, Mauro Icardi isn’t strongly linked with the reigning Premier League champions, but the Inter captain’s name has been mentioned frequently alongside Chelsea in the past - and Conte might revive his interest in the player if the opportunity presents itself.

Positives

This Barcelona youth product has come a long way since he left Spain. In 2013, Icardi joined Inter and is now their captain, having amassed more than 140 appearances and 80 goals for them and improved every year. He is an ice-cool finisher who rarely misses opportunities once they're presented; in recent years, only a few players across Europe have shown such movement and predatory skill in front of goal.

Last season, Icardi improved in a number of other areas. He was more involved in Inter's build-up play, increased his defensive effort and was far better with the ball at his feet. If you compare him with Diego Costa last season, there's hardly any differences: Icardi netted 24 league goals and assisted eight, while Costa scored 20 and provided seven assists.

Negatives

Just like Costa, the 24-year-old is a controversial figure, although most of the Argentine's career problems have been off the pitch. Icardi and his wife Wanda Nara, who's also his agent, can cause a stir when things aren’t going smoothly for them. But even though Inter and Icardi have endured a tumultuous time together, nothing has prevented the player from performing admirably week after week.

Moving to England and playing in the Champions League would be a challenge for Icardi. He would likely take some time to adjust to Conte’s methods and his own new surroundings. But other than that, there are no major obstacles or reasons why he wouldn’t be a significant boost for the Premier League champions.

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

According to the latest reports, Chelsea are considering Manchester City marksman Aguero - and it's rumoured that Pep Guardola has already sanctioned the move. Whether or not the news is true, the 29-year-old forward is definitely another name who the Blues manager should give some serious thought to – assuming this is a genuine possibility.

Positives

Unlike all of Chelsea's other targets, Aguero has Premier League experience and been one of the most devastating strikers for the last six years. His 169 goals from 253 games for City are testament to his influence, and it should be an adequate reference for Conte in his quest for more firepower in attack. Fast, efficient, a constant danger from inside or outside of the box and capable of creating chances for himself and others, the Argentine should be a no-brainer if Chelsea have a chance to sign him.

Negatives

Aged 29, Aguero is injury-prone and already showing slight signs of decline, despite still producing impressive numbers in 2016/17. If it weren’t for injury to Gabriel Jesus, it's quite possible that the young Brazilian would have ended the season as Guardiola’s first-choice striker at the Etihad Stadium. It also remains to be seen how Aguero how would integrate into Chelsea's system of play – his characteristics are very different from the more physical forwards in this list. 

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The 60-second story

Think of Alphonso Davies as Canada's version of Christian Pulisic, the 18-year-old Borussia Dortmund attacker and US international. Except Davies is only 16. The Ghana-born, Edmonton-bred winger was turning heads before signing his first pro contract, back in February 2016 with the Vancouver Whitecaps' USL-based reserve side, but there's a genuine excitement that's grown rapidly since he made his first-team debut in June 2016.

Davies, Major League Soccer's first player born in the 2000s, was an often electrifying presence in 11 games for the Whitecaps' reserves (or WC2) in 2016 before the first team swooped in with a Homegrown contract in mid-July. He's played regularly since, starting six of 13 matches in 2017. Last year, he became the second-youngest player to start an MLS game, at 15 years, 20 months, 23 days.

The youngest, of course, was Freddy Adu, who was 14 years, 10 months, 29 days when he started for DC United in San Jose on May 1, 2004. At the time, Davies was three years old, and still in Africa. His family had escaped the Liberian Civil War to Ghana, and would move to Canada - Ontario first, then Edmonton - when he was just five. He was talented enough to make it into Canada's youth national teams program as he reached his teens, and moved west to join the Whitecaps' youth academy last summer. The year which has followed has surpassed his dreams.

Why you need to know him

Davies is already among MLS' best young players, and the world is starting to take notice. He scored three times in the opening two games of the 2017 Gold Cup.

He has also made a significant impact in Vancouver, settling into a regular role this year after joining the first team last July. 

He has played with Canada's U15s, U18s and U20s, and, now, the senior team. There's a giddiness about him - not far different from that around Pulisic in the USA - and what he could mean for Canadian soccer. The Canucks have been to just one World Cup, in 1986, and lost all three matches.

All of that has led to reports of big European clubs tracking the teenager's progress.

Strengths and weaknesses

Davies is a left-footed winger with good speed, superb skill and strong attacking savvy. He's always looking to go forward, repeatedly gets into the box - and in good positions - and is equally comfortable taking on defenders down the flank or cutting inside to thread passes to his forwards.

He needs to bulk up a bit and become stronger physically to endure the grind of professional season. He's a lanky 5ft 10in and isn't done growing (the weight room will serve him well) and his defensive positioning will improve with experience. Not that it's a problem: for so young an attacking player, he's got good defensive instincts.

He isn’t afraid to shoot - he scored twice for WC2 and hit the post after a nifty stepover move in his first start, a June 18 victory over Ottawa to win the Canadian Championship semi-final series - and is particularly adept at collecting balls in tough spots and quickly turning them into attacks. 

Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson has pleaded for patience. Adu was supposed to be the next coming, and we know how that turned out, but there's a maturity to Davies's play that's rare in one so young. He certainly has star potential, perhaps something more.

They said

“He's a real, real exciting talent. He's brilliant for 15 years of age to do that. At 15, I couldn't even look people in the eye, and he's going out and taking men on and looking absolutely magnificent... He's the shining light. He's the cherry on top of the cake. I think everybody in Canada must be excited at the prospect of him playing for the national team for years and years, because with the ability he's got, he should go on to do big things, not only for Vancouver, but for the national team as well.”

- Ottawa Fury coach Paul Dalglish in 2016, after Davies made his first Whitecaps start in a Canadian Championship victory.

Did you know?

Davies debuted for Canada's U15 national team when he was 13.

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